Principal’s Report

Dear Fortians, parents and carers,

As usual, the past two weeks of term have been eventful, filled with achievements, challenges, and exciting developments. Our students have been involved in numerous excursions and activities, showcasing their diverse talents and interests.

Both Years 9 and 10 cohorts have attended study skills workshops in these past few weeks and students from 7-10 have participated in the Australian History Challenge. The English Faculty have taken Year 8 to see ‘The Wrong Gods’ at the Belvoir Street Theatre and Year 10 to see ‘Macbeth’ at the Seymour Centre. Year 10 Drama have been to the Ensemble Theatre, Year 11 Ancient History students have visited the Chau Chak Wing Museum at Sydney University and Year 12 Japanese students have had speaking practice at the ‘Tanken Centre’.

Congratulations

Three teams from the Fort attended the Shakespeare Carnival at Sydney Girl’s High School – an ensemble scene, a Devised Group Performance and a film – all created by students from Drama Club which meets on Wednesday mornings. Our Year 7 team cleverly adapted Julius Caesar. Both our other teams performed very well and gained excellent feedback about their skills and interpretation from the judges. Whilst none of our teams went on to State Finals, it was a close competition, and they should be extremely proud of their efforts.

The TheatreSports School Challenge is the only school’s drama competition of its kind in NSW. The challenge brings together students from over 150 government, systemic and independent schools across Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle, Bowral and Nowra to perform comic and dramatic scenes made up entirely on the spot. Congratulations to our senior team who came third in the semi-finals last week missing out on a place in the finals by one point.

Fortians selected to feature in the Instrumental Ensemble at the Sydney Opera House in September for the festival of Instrumental – Edmund Huang and our Recorder Quartet – congratulations to Kit, Henry, Hugo and Owen.

These activities highlight the vibrant and dynamic environment at our school, where students are encouraged to explore new experiences and achieve their best.

Reconciliation Week

Last week Fort Street celebrated National Reconciliation week. The theme for this year’s Reconciliation Week is “Bridging Now to Next,” which reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future. It calls on all Australians to step forward together, to look ahead and continue the push forward as past lessons guide us.

The FSHS Reconciliation Action Committee has been working on a Reconciliation Action Plan for our school. In keeping with First Nations tradition of expressing ideas through symbols, our Reconciliation Action Plan will be captured in the visual form of a mural. This mural will focus on the action plan’s five pillars, and art students from each year have been collaborating with Mr Orcher, a proud Murrawarri and Gumbaynggirr artist who shares his experiences using both digital and contemporary mediums, creating compelling and thought-provoking artworks. At the start of the term Year 7 worked with Philip to create artworks that depicted their life experiences and surroundings, and last week art students from Years 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 drew elements inspired by an individual pillar, with great success.

We were privileged to have Philip address our Reconciliation Assembly last Friday and students in the Amnesty/Social Justice Committee also hosted a successful bake sale raising awareness and money for ‘Sisters Inside’ a registered charity which supports and advocates for criminalised women and girls and their children.

Future Leaders Conference

The SRC Future Leaders Conference was a tremendous success, bringing together over 300 student leaders from 55 schools across Sydney. Held at Fort Street, the conference provided an invaluable opportunity for students to meet, exchange ideas, and be inspired by a lineup of exceptional keynote speakers. Highlights included insights on leadership and success from Bree Chisolm (Fortian 1997) a distinguished magistrate of the NSW Local Court, who reflected on her 16 years of experience in criminal law and leadership in legal reform, Mark Loughran who spoke of his remarkable journey overcoming chronic fatigue syndrome to becoming the 5^th Dan Black Belt and Head Instructor at the Australian Martial Arts Academy, and Charishma Kaliyanda MP current State member for Liverpool.

The second session featured a dynamic panel discussion with academic and broadcaster Dr. Sunil Badami, Steve Brogan Chief of Policy and Research at Infrastructure Australia, Anne Thompson a planet optimist and founder of WornUp and Barend Van Der Poll a trained electrical engineer now Head of Asset Management at Tilt Renewables. Students also had the opportunity to network with peers from other schools and participated in student-led workshops, reflecting on leadership.

Many Fortians, from years 9 to 11 were involved in this event from catering, to interviewing our guests, photography, sound and lighting crew and workshop facilitators. Together they collaborated to host the event with finesse, but special congratulations must go to the SRC executive team Miranda, Grace, Angus, Daniel, Vennela, William, Wang and Isabel who meticulously planned and implemented the conference. Events such as these require staff and student collaboration – my sincere thanks are also extended to Ms Mattick, Mr Sherwin, Mr Shakibaei, Mr O’Neill and Mr Leondios as well as our wonderful support staff, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes supporting the event. This conference was a shining example of student voice and agency in action, and a great showcase for Fort Street demonstrating the remarkable capabilities of Fortians.

Semester 1 Reports & Parent Teacher interviews

As we approach the end of the Semester 1 reporting period, student reports will be available on the Sentral Student and Parent Portals by the end of the term for all year groups. Our students continue to excel in their academic and extracurricular pursuits, demonstrating remarkable hard work and dedication each week. I am incredibly proud of their achievements. Parents and guardians are encouraged to review these reports and reach out to our teachers for any necessary support or clarification. This collaboration is vital in supporting our students’ ongoing success.

Parent-Teacher Nights have been scheduled to facilitate these important discussions:

Thursday, 26th June for Years 7 and 10
Wednesday, 2nd July for Years 8 and 9

Bookings for these interviews will open a week before each event and can be made through Sentral Bookings. This is an excellent opportunity for parents and guardians to meet with teachers and discuss their child’s progress in detail. Additionally, the Year 12 Academic Review team has been conducting individual meetings with each Year 12 student as they prepare for their Trial HSC exams. We hope that these meetings provide valuable insights and support for our senior students.

Uniform

As we continue to experience colder weather, I want to remind all students of the importance of adhering to our school’s uniform policy. It is essential that students present themselves in full school uniform every day, which includes wearing the correct jumper and all black shoes. To ensure students are comfortable and warm, the uniform shop is fully stocked with winter jackets and jumpers. A reminder for students in Years 8-12: you are permitted to wear your full sports uniform on Tuesdays. If any student requires assistance with obtaining the appropriate uniform, please do not hesitate to reach out to the school. We are here to help and can provide support where needed. Thank you for your cooperation in maintaining our school’s standards and ensuring a cohesive and professional appearance for all.

Vinnies CEO Sleepout

This year, for the fourth time, I am doing the Vinnies CEO Sleepout to raise funds for Vinnies Homelessness services. I will be part of the NSW DoE team, joining two other Principals. This means that on 19^th June, I will be sleeping outside for the whole night at the White Bay Cruise Terminal If you would like to contribute, please go to my fundraising page. Any donation, however small, will help me towards reaching my target of $5000. Any money raised will go towards funding short-term crisis accommodation, food vans or hampers through to providing long term employment or housing solutions.

https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/fundraiser/juliettemcmurray

Upcoming Events

Week 7:

Monday 9 June: Kings Birthday Public Holiday

Tuesday 10 June: Year 12 Assessment Block

Wednesday 11 June: Year 12 Assessment Block

Wednesday 11 June: Year 7 Puberty Incursion

Wednesday 11 June: P&C Meeting Online

Thursday 12 June: Year 12 Assessment Block

Thursday 12 June: 8T German Excursion – periods 3 and 4 – German Film Festival

Thursday 12 June: CSSI Science Mentoring

Thursday 12 June: CHS 15’s Girls Netball – Ku-Ring-Gai High School

Friday 13 June: Year 12 Assessment Block

Friday 13 June: Regional Cross Country

Friday 13 June: Year 9 and 10 German Excursion – periods 3 and 4 – German Film Festival

Friday 13 June: Astronomy Club Observation Night

Week 8:

Monday 16 June: Year 12 Assessment Block

Tuesday 17 June:

Wednesday 18 June: Zone Athletics Carnival

Thursday 19 June: Year 10 Commerce Market Day

Thursday 12 June: CSSI Science Mentoring

Friday 20 June: World’s Greatest Shave Event

Friday 20 June: Chamber Choir and Harmonie Choir Concert – Hunter Baillie Church Annandale

Week 9:

Monday 23 June: Year 10 Charity Week – Do it for Dolly

Monday 23 June: Year 11 Ancient and Modern History Museum Exhibit Parent Evening

Tuesday 24 June: Year 12 German Excursion – Goethe Institut

Tuesday 24 June: Astronomy Club Observation Night

Wednesday 25 June: Year 12 Academic Mentor Lunch Session

Wednesday 25 June: Year 9 Food Tech Excursion – periods 3 and 4 – Mario’s Pizza

Thursday 26 June: Year 7 & 10 Parent Teacher Interviews

Friday 27 June: NSW Schools Titration Competition

IMP Update

Fort Street students selected to perform at Festival Concerts

Huge congratulations to IMP members Ethan Tsang (cello) and Edmund Huang (bassoon) who have been selected to perform as soloists in the NSW State music festivals, run by the NSW Arts Unit and held in the Sydney Opera House.

Ethan will be performing in the Festival of Choral Music Barangaroo concert on Wednesday 6 August. Edmund will be performing in the Festival of Instrumental Music Mimosa concert on Tuesday 9 September.

In addition, the Fort Street Recorder Ensemble has also been chosen for a festival performance. They will be performing in the Festival of Instrumental Music Jacaranda Concert on Monday 8 September.

This is a wonderful achievement! We wish both young soloists, as well as the members of the recorder ensemble, the very best for their performance on this great stage!

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Fort Street Wind Ensemble collaborates with Sydney Secondary College

On Thursday 15 May, Fort Street Wind Ensemble collaborated with Sydney Secondary College to present the first-ever live performance of our 2019 co-commission: Three Pieces for Symphonic Winds by Luke Byrne, a brilliant Sydney-based composer. This is a significant new work which, due to the pandemic, had never been performed to a live audience before this event.

The two bands met to put the piece together for the first time on Thursday afternoon, and it was very exciting that Luke was able to attend to discuss the piece and his compositional process, with the ensembles and some senior Fort Street students, as well as finally hear his work live after so many years.

At 6pm, after a break for pizza, the two bands each played a solo piece and then combined to premiere the Byrne to our very appreciative audience.

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Sydney Youth Orchestras Winter School Programs

SYO is running several programs relevant to high school students during the winter holidays. Note that bookings close on June 16th.

1. SYO Winter School (14-19 July)

SYO Winter School involves five fun and intensive days of rehearsals and tutorials with Sydney’s best educators, culminating in a concert at Sydney Conservatorium of Music to showcase your week of work. Open to all young musicians with no audition required, SYO Winter School is suitable for any student in primary or high school who plays an orchestral instrument – from those in their first year of playing through to AMEB Grade 7 or equivalent. Students will be placed in ensembles with peers of similar experience level, ensuring the perfect balance of challenge and support.

Find out more about Winter School here: https://syo.com.au/2025-syo-winter-school/

2. NEW: Auditions for SYO Winter Symphony Orchestra (14-19 July)

The Winter Symphony Orchestra will meet for a week of intensive rehearsals, tutorials and workshops, culminating in a showcase concert at the Sydney Conservatorium with Conductor Tyler Wilkinson. Musicians will work side-by-side with inspiring mentors from The Sydney Youth Orchestra and Sydney’s best instrumental tutors and educators.

Audition required for:

· Orchestral Strings

· Brass

· Woodwind

· Percussion

Requirements:

· AMEB Grade 6 to AMusA or equivalent

· Previous large ensemble experience required

· Must be having private instrumental tuition

· Recommended ages: 14 – 18 years old

· All musicians are required to bring their OWN instruments (excluding large percussion instruments)

Find out more about Winter Symphony Orchestra here: https://syo.com.au/syo-winter-symphony-orchestra/

3. SYO HSC Winter School program (14-18 July)

SYO’s HSC program is specifically designed to assist students in Years 10, 11 & 12 to prepare for and support their HSC Music 2 & Music Extension studies. Presented by highly experienced music educators and HSC markers, the HSC Preparatory Course at SYO Winter School is specifically designed to assist students in

Years 10, 11 & 12 (in 2025) to prepare for and polish their understanding of HSC Music 2 & Music Extension in a focused, supportive and engaging environment. HSC Winter School will specifically focus on HSC performance, past examination papers and sight singing. Participants can expect to receive intensive training on practical and written exam technique and constructive performance critique.

Find out more about the HSC Winter School here: https://syo.com.au/2025-hsc-winter-school/

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IMP Winter Concert on Friday 27 June – Save the Date

Save the evening of Friday 27th of June for our wonderful IMP Winter Concert to celebrate the great work of the IMP ensembles in Terms 1 & 2!

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Upcoming Public Recital featuring Fort Street Chamber Choir & Recorder Ensemble

On Friday 20 June the Chamber Choir and the Recorder Ensemble will feature in a concert presented by the wonderful Harmoni Choir, to be held in Hunter Baillie Church, Annandale.

All Fortians and their families are warmly invited to come and hear these amazing ensembles perform in a public concert.

All proceeds are going towards a new scholarship for emerging young singers in Sydney.

Tickets are available via the QR code or by visiting https://www.trybooking.com/DBWYG

See you there!

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Sydney Symphony Orchestra Young Musicians Workshop

Applications are now open for Sydney Symphony’s motivational three-day student orchestral workshop for aspiring young musicians in years 4–12.

Students will take a deep dive into the finer elements of rehearsing and performing a major orchestral work with the guidance of the talented musicians of the Sydney Symphony and the 2025 Fellowship.

Dates: Wednesday 1 October – Friday 3 October 2025

Location: Parramatta Marist High School

Closing date for applications: Friday 4 July 2025.

For more information: https://www.sydneysymphony.com/concerts/young-musicians-workshop-2025

Wellbeing Corner

Every Day Counts – The Importance of School Attendance

As we progress through the academic year, it’s timely to revisit a fundamental aspect of student success: consistent school attendance. Regular attendance is not just about meeting a requirement; it’s about ensuring our students have every opportunity to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Why Attendance Matters

The NSW Department of Education mandates a minimum attendance rate of 90% for students. This benchmark is set because research consistently shows that students who attend school regularly are more likely to:

· Achieve higher academic outcomes

· Develop stronger social connections

· Establish positive routines and habits

· Feel a greater sense of belonging within the school community.

Conversely, frequent absences can lead to gaps in learning, increased feelings of isolation, and heightened stress levels.

Understanding Absences

We recognise that there are legitimate reasons for students to miss school, such as:

· Illness or infectious diseases

· Unavoidable medical appointments

· Exceptional or urgent family circumstances (e.g. attending a funeral)

In such cases, it is essential to inform the school promptly and provide an explanation within seven days of the absence. This ensures accurate record-keeping and allows us to offer appropriate support if needed.

The Impact of Lateness

Arriving late to school can disrupt a student’s learning and the classroom environment. Students who are late may miss crucial instructions, feel unsettled, and find it challenging to catch up. We encourage all students to arrive no later than 8:40 AM for an 8:45 AM start to ensure a smooth start to their day.

Collaborative Efforts for Improvement

If your child’s attendance falls below the 90% threshold, our Wellbeing Team will reach out to discuss strategies for improvement. This may include developing an attendance plan, providing additional support, or connecting with external resources. Our goal is to work collaboratively with families to address any barriers to regular attendance.

Resources for Parents and Carers

For further information and support, the NSW Department of Education offers comprehensive resources: · School Attendance Information for Parents

These resources provide valuable insights into the importance of attendance and practical tips for supporting your child’s consistent school participation.

Thank you for your continued partnership in fostering a supportive and successful learning environment for all our students.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s attendance, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s Year Adviser or the Head Teacher Wellbeing.

Harding Miller Scholarship Success!

On Monday, Year 9’s Rita Munoz and Michelle Cam attended the Harding Miller Foundation Scholarship award ceremony, a special event recognising high-achieving young girls from public high schools across Australia. The scholarship provides academic and personal support to help female students reach their full potential. As follows:

Held in the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, we met 79 other recipients of the scholarship from the Sydney and ACT region and throughout the day we participated in events such as a Q&A with Harding Miller Foundation alumnae, friendly questionnaires with each other, a short Kahoot, followed by a raffle (in which Michelle won a big prize) and an 81 girl chain of whisper (which went catastrophically wrong, as all games of whisper do) to gain a better understanding of the foundation and to connect with and create friendships and networks with the girls in our cohort.

After an amazing afternoon tea, parents and guardians arrived, as well as our donors. We learnt that our scholarships were sponsored by Sydney Airport, meeting with two representatives from the company. In the evening, our awards ceremony consisted of an Acknowledgement to Country by one of the other scholarship recipients, a self-choreographed Aboriginal dance, a song by a self taught opera singer, and a performance by the School Spectacular Arts Unit, then we received our awards.As recipients of this scholarship, we’re incredibly thankful for the opportunity and look forward to making the most of this generous support to achieve future goals and give back in return!

Rita Karina Munoz and Michelle Cam, Year 9

Year 9 Study Skills Workshop: Building Strong Habits Early

In Week 4, Year 9 had three periods of study skills sessions, where we learnt new ways to approach our studies and refined our current studying skills. There were three sessions A, B and C, where each session took a different approach to the broad topic of studying. Session A was with Ms Lawson, our year adviser, where she answered some of the questions our year group had about studying. She also recommended a method of studying called the Pomodoro method, and similar to the Pomodoro method, we took a 5 minute break every 20 minutes during the session. Session B was with Ms Nolan, our co-year adviser, where she focused on a problem everyone has at least once suffered before; procrastination and provided us with tactics to help tackle procrastination such as chunking and backwards mapping. Session C was with four of the current Year 12s, where they were able to provide insight to some of their experiences in their senior years and give us advice, and an idea of what to expect in the future. Overall, the study skills session has been successful to all of Year 9, these three sessions were able to introduce our cohort to various methods of studying, help us find techniques that can guide us when preparing for assessments, overcome procrastination and set us up in the right direction to studying success.

Xixi He, Year 9

Kristina Smith

Head Teacher Wellbeing

Fort Street High School

Year 11 Food Technology Excursion

On Thursday, 16th May, the Year 11 Food Technology students participated in a valuable and enriching excursion to Mario’s Pizza Bar in Leichhardt. The visit provided students with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the hospitality industry through real-world observation and hands-on experience.

The group departed at the beginning of recess and returned midway through lunch, allowing for approximately two hours of educational and experiential learning. Upon arrival, students were warmly welcomed by the owner and head chef, Chef Michelle, who guided them through several aspects of professional food service. Most students then stretched their own dough for pizza and added the toppings before putting their pizzas in the rotating pizza oven at 460 degrees Celsius.

The visit began with an introduction to front-of-house service, including the correct etiquette for serving wine, champagne, and appetizers. Students then received a behind-the-scenes tour of the kitchen, where Chef Michelle shared insights into Italian culinary techniques and the importance of maintaining food safety and hygiene standards in a commercial kitchen environment. Commercial refrigeration techniques to extend the shelf life of food was also discussed. We had the opportunity to talk to Chef Michele about pizza food trends in Australia.

After the informative sessions, students were seated in the outdoor dining area to enjoy the atmosphere and sample the cuisine. The dishes prepared by Chef Michelle were of an exceptional standard, and the service was both welcoming and professional. The experience was not only educational but also highly enjoyable for all involved.

This excursion provided students with a practical perspective that complemented their classroom learning, reinforcing key concepts from the Food Technology curriculum in an engaging, real-world setting.

We extend our sincere thanks to all staff involved in the planning and approval of this excursion. The students in the Food Technology class are looking forward to more immersive excursions soon. We would like to acknowledge and thank Ms Meissner for her support and supervision on the day.

Sarah Nguyen

Year 11 Food Technology Student

Year 8 Engineering Project

Year 8 Engineering Systems – Bridge Project

In Year 8, students have the opportunity to explore real-world disciplines through project-based learning tasks. This term, one of my classes investigated the engineering principles used by civil engineers in real-life projects.

As part of this unit, students designed and built bridges using only paddle pop sticks and glue. The goal was to construct a bridge capable of spanning a 30cm gap while withstanding forces of compression and tension.

On testing day, all bridges were completed to a high standard. Each one was tested by applying increasing weight on top. Once the available weights were exhausted, students and teachers continued testing by standing on the bridges and adding more weight until structural failure occurred.

Remarkably, every bridge supported up to 80kg, with several holding over 120kg. The strongest bridge—built by Ben Hynson and Matt Summerfield—held over 170kg and never failed during testing.

Testing day was a highlight for the class. Students were highly engaged, cheering and jumping with excitement as their bridges held more and more weight. Many were amazed that such simple materials could bear such heavy loads.

Debating News

Fort Street Debating Team Making Their Mark

The Fort Street Debating and Public Speaking Team has had an exciting and productive start to Term 2, with students across all year levels dedicating their Monday afternoons to sharpening their argumentation, public speaking, and critical thinking skills.

Our Stage 4 and 5 debating teams have now been selected, with both teams and their reserves demonstrating exceptional potential and commitment during training. Congratulations to all the students involved – your enthusiasm and growing expertise are already making an impact. Congratulations to the following students Year 7 Debating Team Sasha Anandh Ryan Barman Ruhaan Sethi Alica Kim Yvette Mason-Wong Reserves Sebastian Italiano Michael Zao Evan Li Year 8 Debating Team Leo Feltham Lydia Pan Max Jeng Nirvani Kunwar Reserves Shristi Mittal Emily Lee Year 9 Debating Team Samuel Hao Nancy Zhang Aliya Chaitow Xixi He Reserves Kevin Nguyen Dimitri Mesnyanko Year 10 Debating Team Ollie Panagakis Oliver Williams Pranaya Prasath Gabe Kutcher-Skeller

Meanwhile, the Stage 6 Senior Debating Team continues their impressive season, remaining undefeated so far after 4 rounds of the Premiere’s Debating Competition. Their recent close win against Rose Bay Secondary College, a strong contender in the competition, was a

testament to their strategic thinking, eloquence, and teamwork. As they move deeper into the competition with the final rounds approach, the team is looking like a serious title contender.

In a fantastic opportunity to extend their debating experience, members of our Year 9 and 10 teams will participate in the upcoming University of Sydney Senior Debating Day. Three Fort Street teams will compete in a series of debates against schools from across Sydney and NSW. The day promises not only competitive challenges but also intensive coaching from experienced adjudicators. Students will receive valuable feedback on:

· Speech structure and content,

· Case construction and team cohesion,

· Confidence and delivery techniques, and

· Effective use of tone, timing and persuasive language.

The program is designed to build skill and confidence, while nurturing the next generation of debaters to think critically, speak with purpose, and engage meaningfully with complex issues.

Congratulations to all our debaters on their hard work and achievements so far. Good luck to our Stage 4 and 5 Debating teams who begin their Premiere’s Debating Challenge campaigns in the coming weeks. We look forward to seeing their continued growth and success in the weeks to come.

Year 11 Mock Trial Team

The Fort Street Mock Trial team faced off against St Maroun’s last night in their second round where they played the role of the defence team in a negligence case, representing Westfield in response to an incident where a woman slipped in the food court and injured herself. The team was made up of Cara, Dylan, Chinmay, Vennela, Bhavnish, and Chloe from Year 11.

Our team attempted to argue that Westfield’s hourly inspections of the food court by cleaners addressed their duty of care and that the woman did not see a puddle before slipping so could not claim that Westfield was to blame for her fall. The opposing team’s doctor witness was well prepared when giving evidence while our second barrister, Chinmay, was a standout who presented a strong closing argument in which he linked court precedent to the facts of the case.

The other team came out ahead top on points and won the round, but our team clinched a symbolic victory by winning the case as the negligence claim was dismissed.

World’s Greatest Shave 2025

NEW DATE – World’s Greatest Shave 20/6 (W8 Fri)

The World’s Greatest Shave is a Year 12 Social Justice campaign that the Fort Street community takes part in annually to raise funds and awareness for blood cancer. Our exciting event for a good cause has been rescheduled for Friday, 20th June, at the hall’s extended lunch, which means we have more time to collect donations.

This year, we have a smaller group of Year 12 students participating, including Yvonne Szmajda, Keith Huang, Ms Catalan (Year Advisor), and Mr Tennent (Assistant Year Advisor). However, we are all here for it!

Dye it pink, purple or lilac to go along with my side shave? Cast your vote in your donation, and I’ll dye what comes in first. I’m doing this for my friend who’s going through chemo for blood cancer – any donation will help a good cause!

Sponsor Ms Catalan | $1000 Target Goal

Right now, over 150,000 Australians are facing the devastating impact of blood cancer, and 17 people lose their lives every single day. Any Amount – big or small – will make a real, tangible difference.

Sponsor Mr Tennet | $1000 Target Goal

Sponsor Keith | $1000 Target Goal

Sponsor Yvonne | $1200 Target Goal

Here’s why you should sponsor us

Blood cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian children, impacting students and schools across the country. This will fund game-changing support and research. Every dollar raised helps provide families with the support they need, while powering critical research projects that bring us closer to a future free of blood cancer.

Thank you for your support!

Let’s get bald!

Year 12 Social Justice Committee

Book Talk

At Fort Street High, we recognise that reading for pleasure is the greatest way to advance literacy. Reading for pleasure enhances comprehension, expands vocabulary, and improves overall learning outcomes across the curriculum. Positive engagement with books has broader outcomes too, creating stronger foundations for future learning and future academic success. Much research also supports that book readers live longer than non-book readers by between two to five years.

At Fort Street High, we particularly are encouraging students, staff and parents to have conversations about books. The student book clubs are thriving and at the library we welcome student and staff suggestions for new book purchases so that the collection may truly reflect our broader community.

Here are some titles of some new book acquisitions ready for borrowing-

· ‘Darkest Night, Brightest Star’ by Australian YA author Barry Jonsberg is a timely exploration of different kinds of masculinity, a tale written for junior high students.

· ‘Starlight’ is a collection of poetry about identity, belonging and growing up by award -winning young poet Solli Raphael, again a great read for junior high readers.

· Graphic novels rule and the graphic adaptation of Ursula Le Guin’s ‘A Wizard of Earthsea’ is wise and beautiful.

· The graphic reimagining of Cormac McCarthy’s ‘The Road’ is being touted as a graphic novel masterpiece, ideal for senior readers

· Rom-coms also rule for teens and ‘Wandering Wild ‘by best-selling Australian author Lynette Noni is a fun yet compelling teen romance set in the Blue Mountains.

· ‘A Wreck of Seabirds’ by Karleah Olsen has been nominated as best teen novel of the past year, an atmospheric novel about grief and loss and more.

· And for adults, ‘The Names’ by Florence Knapp will no doubt be the big seller of 2025, the perfect example of great literary commercial fiction, in what The Guardian has described as ‘a strikingly assured sliding doors tale, three alternate narratives …. showing how the choice of a name influences a life’.

Enjoy your reading. Let us know if you read something brilliant. And let us know how we can assist your own ‘reading for pleasure’ journey.

The Library Team June 2025

P&C Update

Fort Street P&C

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.

Careers Office News

Experience UTS Day

Experience UTS Day is coming up these July school holidays for Year 10 and 11 students.Students will have the chance to explore various course areas and get a taste of university life. This unique event is designed to help students navigate their path to uni. With over 30 interactive workshops across a variety of disciplines, they’ll get a chance to dive into hands-on learning experiences.

Whether they have a specific career in mind or are still exploring their interests, these workshops will provide valuable insights to help them choose their future degree.

When: Thursday 17 July 2025
9.00am – 2.45pm

Where: UTS City Campus
15 Broadway, Ultimo