Principals Report

Dear Fortians, Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to Term 2, it is wonderful to be essentially ‘back to normal’ at school. Luckily at the Fort we have started the term with minimal disruption due to COVID positive cases amongst staff and students. I will continue to notify the community as we encounter cases each week.

In the first week of term staff undertook professional learning in the areas of formative assessment, cognitive load theory and HSC descriptors and prescriptive goals.

We acknowledged ANZAC Day with a formal whole school assembly on Friday 29 April and were delighted to welcome back to the Fort Jonothon Kelly Fortian 2021 to perform the last post and reveille. Peter Tran delivered a moving and personal ANZAC Day reflection along with Miranda Leighton who spoke of her great grandfathers’ contribution. Galileo Lima also spoke passionately on the topic.

Friday 29 April was also the official opening of the Ron Horan Museum which kicked off with morning tea in the Fountain Quad followed by official ceremonies in the Memorial Hall at which Iain Wallace, the school archivist, outlined the museums journey from its first inception to the opening this year followed by a moving address from the Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG who as usual did not fail to mesmerize us all. Guests were then led on a tour of the school and museum by our wonderful student guides. The museum is now open for teachers to take classes during the week and all students have access at recess and lunch on Thursdays and Fridays to take a closer look at the collection. Any other guests are welcome to visit the museum by appointment (contact the school archivist Iain Wallace) to book an appointment.

The year 12 Geography class arrived safely home from their field trip to Cairns on Saturday  night, it certainly looks as if they had a fabulous experience.

Events Term 2:

• Athletics Carnival Wednesday May 25
• Year 11 Camp Wednesday June 8 – Friday June 10
• Years 7 and 10 Parent Teacher Night in the school hall Thursday June 23
• Years 8 and 9 Parent Teacher Night in the school hall Wednesday June 29
• IMP Mid-Year Concert Friday 24 June

The Opening of the Ron Horan Museum

The opening of the Ron Horan Museum was a huge success last week and a wonderful event for the school. Please see below for a letter from Michael Kirby about the day.

We’ve also included some great additional photos sent to us from former Fort Street students Greg Reading (1955 – 1959).

“Dear Fellow Fortians,

I duly attended at the School on Friday, 29 April to participate in the opening of the Ron Horan Museum.

I was welcomed by the Principal, Ms Juliette McMurray and by the former Principal Ms Ros Moxham.

With my brother, David Kirby (FSBHS 1956-60) we deposited our shared crimson robe from the time of our separate service in the Court of Criminal Appeal of New South Wales.  We were welcomed to the Museum by the Archivist, Iain Wallace and his support staff.  I attach some photos showing preparation of a model being dressed in the CCA robe.  It is very nicely presented in a well-lit cabinet.  Amongst the onlookers were the captains of the new Kirby House at the School.  I felt that this was a mistake as I was never good at sport.  But my brother David had been Captain of Mearns House in 1960. The other male Fortian whose name was borrowed was Sir Douglas Mawson.

The Museum contains tributes to Ron Horan and Fortiana going back to the early 20^th century (a letter from HRH Prince of Wales 1919).  We then had morning tea in the courtyard followed by a school assembly in the School Memorial Hall.   The courtyard was the place where Mr Westlake, on 7 February 1952 (70 years ago) announced the death of the King and the ascension to the throne of Queen Elizabeth II.

Ms McMurray paid a tributed to the “Fortians of 1955” who have contributed to the Museum project.  The two principals were praised for their support.  I spoke in praise of the school and public education.  The Fort Street High school choir and orchestra were in fine form.  I attach to this email photographs from the occasion.  There was good roll up of alumni.

The Museum is definitely worth a visit.  It is housed in what used to be Room 8 (where Mr Jim Coroneous taught general mathematics) that room was opened up to the former headmaster’s office where the cane was administered by Mr Mearns to John Singleton AM but fortunately not to me.

The Principal and the Ron Horan Museum Archivist, Iain Wallace, also expressed thanks to the year of 1955.

I thought you would like to see these photos.

Michael Kirby

FSBHS 1955  

Photos below by Greg Reading.

Outstanding Gymnastics Results

Riva from Year 12 competed in the WAG State Championships- Level 9 in April and we are thrilled to report her results:

1st Bars

5th Beam

4th Floor

4th OVERALL

She has now qualified for and has been selected to represent NSW in the Australian Gymnastics Championships held on the Gold Coast in May.

This has been a dream for Riva …. we are so proud of her determination and perseverance to achieve this goal.

Inner West Butterfly Alert!

The Environment Committee, Amnesty and Fortians have sent 78 Butterflies for the HOPE BUTTERFLIES project promoting environmental sustainability in the form of an art installation for NSW Parliament House. Extract of response from the artist Nick Baldas below:

INNER WEST BUTTERFLY ALERT

78 HOPE Butterflies have been spotted swarming in the Inner West of Sydney. These beautiful butterflies represent the students of Fort Street High School in Petersham NSW and they carry HOPE on their wings.

The butterflies are heading directly towards New South Wales Parliament House to celebrate World Environment Day 2022.

Year 8 and 9 French Film Festival Excursion

The experience of watching Le Trésor du Petit Nicolas, or Little Nicholas’ Treasure, was magnifique! The fifteen minute walk/battle through the wind and light rain to Norton Street for the movie was worth it, as we were delighted in watching the third installment in the Le Petit Nicolas series.

The Years 8 and 9 French classes were accompanied by Mesdames Walker, Maddox and Salisbury to the cinema. We were fortunate enough to have the cinema all to ourselves and sat and watched the story for 1 hour and 43 minutes. Nicolas, the main character, went through a crisis as his father was promoted to work in the south of France, away from Nicolas’ friends. Nicolas and his gang, the ‘Invincibles’, try to stop this from happening.

The excursion itself was a wholesome experience as we were able to sit with our friends and snack on unhealthy food in the dark, for almost two hours. The movie motivated us to understand as much French as possible and was beneficial in introducing us to new words and expressions in the French language. 

~ Owen Seeto (8 French)

Year 8 German – Frohe Ostern!

Frohe Ostern!

Year 8 German students spent a lesson before the holidays learning about Easter traditions in Germany. The Easter egg is the most important symbol for the celebration and many Germans decorate eggs and then use them in egg hunts, egg rolling competitions or to decorate branches and trees in their gardens and homes. Here are some pictures of the beautiful eggs that 8R dyed in class.

Kristina Reynolds

Language Teacher

7F and 7R History Excursion to Hyde Park and ‘The Big Dig’ on Wednesday 6 April

On Wednesday 6 April, on possibly the wettest Sydney day on record, 7F and 7R stoically accompanied Mr de Bres and Ms Wark on a site study of Hyde Park, a guided history walk along Macquarie Street and a visit to an archaeological site in The Rocks.

Here is Isobel Jefferson’s recount of the excursion:

Our history excursion taught me a lot about colonial Australia, such as the kinds of people who shaped the colony like Captain Cook, Governor Macquarie and Queen Victoria, and what the living conditions were like for people in Australia during this time.

Various historical figures were depicted in statues across the city and in Hyde Park. We learned about the history of these statues and what they mean for Australia on a tour led by Mr de Bres and Ms Wark. For example, we learned about the history and recent controversy surrounding Captain Cook’s statue in Hyde Park, as well as an explanation of Governor Macquarie’s statue, and the statues of Queen Victoria and her husband Albert which sit across the road from each other at the top of Macquarie Street. We then walked down Macquarie Street past Hyde Park Barracks, The Mint, NSW Parliament House, Sydney Hospital, the State Library and the Mitchell Library. The sculpture of a boar, which stands in front of the hospital was another noteworthy statue that we examined. It was donated by Marchesa Fiaschi Torrigiani in 1968 and given the name Il Porcellino, after a similar sculpture in Florence. It is said that rubbing it’s nose will bring you good luck, and it attracts a large number of tourists each year.

After lunch we walked to The Rocks for a workshop at ‘The Big Dig’ Archaeological Centre. We saw remnants of shops and houses here, one of which belonged to students from Observatory Hill’s former Fort Street Model School. We learned about the people who lived in these buildings as well as the history of how they were constructed. We also analysed objects which had been found at the site and categorised them into the following categories: medicine, landscape, technology, and sanitation.

Overall, the excursion was a fascinating experience and I gained a lot of knowledge from my time in the city.

Isobel Jefferson

7F

2022 HSC Geography Great Barrier Reef Tour

As part of their HSC course, Fortian Geographers undertake a detailed study of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) as a case study ecosystems at risk. Fortunately, Geography students at Fort Street are able to participate in a four day learning tour to enhance their understanding of this iconic Australian ecosystem. Fieldwork experience lies at the core of the discipline of Geography and as such, immersive and interactive elements of learning are a mandatory part of the Geography Syllabus and bring great depth of understanding.

In the Ecosystems at Risk unit students are learning about the biophysical interactions, resilience processes and management practices used in relation to the reef. The depth of understanding and perspectives students developed on these issues were greatly enhanced on our trip by talks from James Cook University marine biologists, Cairns tourism operators and a local Gimuy-walubarra yidi indigenous ranger. Throughout our trip the impact of the GBR on the Australian economy and global biosphere was evident. The complexity of ecosystem management challenges and the interwoven nature of the GBR ecosystem was evident throughout all our experiences in Far North Queensland. 

In addition to the local Cairns tourist attractions, such as the night markets, we were able to experience a broad range of reef based activities. We snorkelled at Fitzroy Island and visited the turtle sanctuary to see how the endangered turtles are protected. Throughout the trip students participated in citizen science programs and collected data to be used in assessing the ecological health of the reef. We were also guided through Australia’s second largest  Barramundi aquaculture operation at Innisfail which provided a detailed link between reef management and the various agricultural and aquaculture practices of the region.  

However, the highlight of the tour, by far, was the outer reef snorkelling experience at Moore Reef. After a bumpy 2 hour ride to outskirts of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park we visited a recreational pontoon. Stationary reef tourism plays a crucial role in reef management through environmental management levies and minimisation of damage to other zoned protection sites. However, for students, the enjoyment of interacting with Anemone fish and Green Sea Turtles in the wild was unbeatable! 

The Great Barrier Reef tour provided students with an invaluable learning experience reinforcing prior learning and enhancing the detail they are able to offer. In addition to the many links to the curriculum, it was simply fantastic to take students away after such a long break from fieldwork due to Covid. We can’t wait to run this trip again in 2023!

Fortian Youths make their voices heard at the 2022 Rostrum Voice of Youth Competition

On Wednesday the 30th of March 2022, six Fortians participated in the Rostrum Voice of Youth Competition for 2022 at Santa Sabina College, Strathfield.

Representing our school in the junior division were the always eloquent speaking talents of Miranda Leighton from year 8, Eleanor Alonso Love from year 9 and Sammy Anand from year 9. Our juniors got to select from a range of topics for their 6-minute speech such as ‘blue skies’, ‘start a conversation’, ‘this time it will be different’, ‘wait and see’ and ‘celebration’. Eleanor gave a moving speech where she pointed out the social and environmental issues that the young people of her generation face today, and how they are working hard to resolve those issues in ‘hopes for blue skies’. Sanjana delivered an equally thought-provoking speech on cultural diversity and how the set-back but also the progress that Australians have made towards embracing the beauty and values of our multicultural society, have enabled us to begin fulfilling the deeper meaning behind the powerful claim that ‘this time it will be different’.

In the senior division, we had the mighty speaking powers of Hugo Ceran-Jerusalemy, Sanjana Krishnan-iyer and Dennis Yeo of year 11. Our seniors were given 8 minutes to give their speech and the topics they could choose were ‘errors of judgment’, ‘connection to country’, ‘spoilt for choice’, ‘the lesson that I learnt’ and ‘changing the narrative’. Both Sanjana and Hugo advocated for gender equality in their speeches and presented some persuasive arguments about how we need to be ‘changing the narrative’ for women. Sanjana addressed the inequality of the gender pay gap and the unrealistic standards that the fashion industry places on women when it comes to beauty. Hugo spoke about the importance of giving women more opportunities to be heard in our Australian political arena. At the end of the competition, the judges rewarded Hugo with second prize and gave equally high praises to Sanjana and Dennis for their courageous speeches.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Miranda, Eleanor, Sammy, Hugo, Sanjana and Dennis for putting in so much time and effort towards composing and delivering these truly enlightening speeches! You are outstanding role models for all Fortians and people of your generation; please continue to care and stay-informed about all the issues and changes that are occurring in our Australian society because by doing so, you keep the future bright for our society!

In true Fortian fashion, I also want to commend your effort with a quote. Even though our school only participated in the opening round of the Rostrum Voice of Youth speaking competition for 2022, I hope that you never forget that: “The worst speech you’ll ever give, will be far better than the one you never give”.. . . and there’s always next year for all of you!

Ms. Truong
Debating and Public Speaking Coordinator for Fort Street High School

A Monumental Showdown – Year 11 Premier’s Debating Challenge

A Monumental Showdown – Year 11 Premier’s Debating Challenge
Round 3: Fort Street vs. Newtown Performing Arts High School

On Monday the 4th of April 2022, the Year 11 Debate Team engaged in their third debate for term 1 against Newtown Performing Arts High School. Our topic was ‘that we should allow students to opt out of sport and PE classes in favour of academics’ and we were given the affirmative side.

Our first speaker was Matilda Gibian who delivered an excellent speech about the benefits of devoting more time to helping students who may find certain fields of academic challenging. Rose Kenyon, our second speaker, then rebutted the opposition by outlining the interruptions that events such as last
year’s lockdown and the recent floods, brought to the delivery of sport and PE programs. Our third speaker, Dennis Yeo (and with the support of our team advisor Sebastian Lenehan Choo) reinforced our all of our arguments in a succinct and eloquent manner.

Sadly, we were defeated by Newtown thus marking the end of our Year 11 Debate Team’s chance of progressing further into the 2022 Premier’s Debating Challenge.

Nonetheless, I think every member of the Year 11 Debate Team are just grateful to be allowed to debate other schools after the 100 days lockdown of 2021 forced us to prematurely exit the Premier’s Debating Challenge in 2021 due to its sudden cancellation.

Thank you to all the debaters who formed the Year 11 Debate Team in term 1: Rose Kenyon, Matilda Gibian, Ethan Lin, Hugo Ceran-Jerusalemy, Dennis Yeo, Yexuan Yang, Sebastian Lenehan Choo and Charlotte Dillon.

I am sure you will take everything you have learnt from these debates and from the Monday after school debate workshops and return as an even more formidable Year 12 Debate Team for Fort Street in 2023!

Ms. Truong
Debating and Public Speaking Coordinator for Fort Street High School

CHS Under 15s netball

On the final day of term one, the CHS Under 15s netball team made their way to Macarthur Girls High School in Parramatta.

Although a popular sport at Fort Street, the school doesn’t have a good record of success in netball competitions. We are often up against all-girls schools which have a far greater pool of players to choose from. However, as we took our places on the court, we had the true Fortian optimistic attitude.

Almost to our surprise, by the end of the first quarter we were ahead and by the end of the game, Fort Street had won with a fantastic score of 35-11!

Congratulations to our fabulous goal shooters; Ashley Huang, Daya Yu, Hannah-Grace Lee, Sophie Kilburn, and Claire Bentley, our excellent mid-court players; Gina Hong, Nina Gibian, and Anika Sinha, and our reliable defenders; Anna Moran and Lucie Atkin Bolton for the outstanding effort displayed on the court and the best of luck for the next game! 

Under

Cross Country

Congratulations to all the students who participate in the Cross Country this week especially the students below who came first in their age group.

12 Years Boys – Leon Liu

13 Years Boys – Akira Howard

14 Years Boys – Lachlan MacIntyre

15 Years Boys – Oskar Deuschle

16 Years Boys – Finn Williams

17 Years Boys – Casper Khoo

18 Years Boys – Oliver Simmonds

The final House placings are:

1st – Mawson

2nd – Preston

Equal 3rd – Kirby

Equal 3rd – Joshi

4th – Sheikh

A big Thankyou to Mr Gaal, Mr Fischer, Mr Vaughan, Morrison, Ms Walker and Ms Thompson for assisting on the day.

Ms Ezekiel 

Study Skills Seminar Year 10 and 11

Dear Year 10&11 Parents & Carers,

The school has organised a Study Skills seminar with Dr Prue Salter for Year 10&11 students and their families on Monday 9 May, from 6:30pm in the school hall. Dr Salter is the founder of Enhanced Learning Educational Services, an expert in effective study skills and highly experienced and engaging presenter. She has worked with the school for several years, and many students and families have benefited from her practical advice and strategies.

The main topics covered on the evening will be:

• making learning more efficient and effective;
• organisation and time management skills;
• improving study notes and study techniques;
• dealing with the obstacles and problems.

For students and family members who are not able to attend in person, we hope to make a Zoom link available on the evening. If available, Zoom details will be sent out on the day of the seminar.

To assist the school in planning for the evening can you please complete this google form if you are planning to attend OR if you are not able to attend, but would like to be sent a Zoom link if available. One response per family is sufficient. If you are not planning to attend and do not wish to receive a Zoom link there is no need to complete the form.

Sincerely,

Joel Morrison
Deputy Principal

Year 10 Subject Selection Evenings

Year 10 Subject Selection Evenings are a great place to start if you want to study at university after high school.

About this event
Get advice and information that’s specially tailored for Year 10 students, that will help you navigate the HSC subject selection process, explain how UNSW admissions and scholarship applications work, and give you an insight into transitioning into university life so that you can get a head start on planning your future.

Parents and teachers of Year 10 students are invited to join the evening as well as participate in the live Q&A session.

Subject selection info not to miss!

Hear how it works.
The possible impact on Adjustment Factors.
Understanding Assumed Knowledge and Prerequisites.
Tips for Admission and Scholarships.
We’ll chat with current students on their subject selection experiences and decisions.
Live Q&A for the duration of the event.
Our last session of the evening will include separate parent and student Q&As with UNSW staff.

Navigating HSC subject selection.

We know that sorting out your subject selection for the HSC can be tricky. We’ll help you by providing information straight from the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) and from our faculties and staff.

What to expect.

We are offering two livestreamed Year 10 Subject Selection Evenings across May. Event dates:

6 PM – 7 PM, Tuesday 3 May
6 PM – 7 PM, Thursday 12 May
Register once.

Please select the date that best suits you. Attending both isn’t necessary (they’re all the same).

Book using this link Eventbrite

Managing Perfectionism

University of Sydney Webinars for Senior Students

University of Sydney | Life in the Field: Conservation and Sustainability 

Wednesday 25 May 2022, 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm 

Online 

Have you wondered what the day-to-day life in the field of conservation and sustainability is like? And what jobs are available in this growing sector? Join this session and learn about what the conservation and sustainability sector is about, what an average day of work might be like for a sustainability officer, environmental consultant, conservation, or natural resource management professional, and how you can pursue studies towards working in the sector yourself.

Find out more: https://uni-sydney.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Zzmi2fusQpmGbHtlQ_knNw

University of Sydney | Your Future in Business 

Wednesday 1 June 2022, 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm 

Online 

Join this session to hear about how the Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Sydney will prepare you for a future in business. Find out about the wide range of areas of study or ‘majors’ on offer, such as Finance, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Human Resource Management, Management & Leadership, and more.

Find out more: https://uni-sydney.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GSeh1ERJQZWFGfHDVTsE6g

University of Sydney | Careers in Architecture 

Wednesday 8 June 2022, 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm 

Online 

Are you interested in architecture and the built environment? Discover the myriad of careers available to you in architecture, design, urban planning, heritage conservation, property development, sustainability, construction and more! Find out how a degree at the Sydney School of Architecture can help you prepare for an exciting career in the field.

Find out more: https://uni-sydney.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_N_DO0IZiThyPp1RNvX_7-Q

The Knowledge Society opportunities for 13-17 year olds

The Knowledge Society (TKS) is looking to support curious and driven high school students from around the world who are looking to make a big impact. At TKS, you will learn how to use emerging technologies to solve the world’s biggest problems, like climate change, world hunger, poverty, and more. TKS students have gone on to start companies at cumulatively $70M valuations, conducting bleeding-edge research, and earning internships at companies like Neuralink, IBM, Microsoft and more. TKS also has an extensive mentor network from companies like Tesla, SpaceX, Apple, Google and we work with some of these companies directly to tackle their top business priorities.

Applications close May 31st but program spaces and tuition support are limited – if you are between the ages of 13-17, anywhere in the world, apply to our Global program here.

No previous knowledge or experience required and we don’t care about your grades. By the end of TKS’ 10-month program, you will:

• • Have a good understanding of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, Nanotech, Genomics, Blockchain

• • Develop a portfolio of projects and thought leadership including Master’s/PhD level projects in less than a year (again no experience required, this is what TKS is about!)

• • Be trained on the mindsets, confidence, and problem-solving abilities you’ll need to tackle any problems in life, including some of the world’s toughest problems

• • Curate your own community of like-minded mentors and best friends from around the world

• • Gain real world experience by working with organizations like Google, Airbnb, the United Nations, XPRIZE, Microsoft etc… on some of their most pressing issues
  • Have the opportunity to EARN opportunities like speaking on global stages, internships, scholarships, and start up funding ($100K-$5M).

This will take time and is available to students who put in the work and demonstrate strong aptitude.

P.s. – TKS has up to 100% tuition support and scholarships are available. Please do not let tuition prevent you from applying. If you have any questions you can email mia.nguyen@tks.world.

TKS exists because there aren’t enough smart people working on hard problems. We want to support the most curious and driven young people around the world on their journeys, unlock their potential, and provide the resources and guidance to accomplish big things earlier on in life. The only way to predict the future is to create it 😉