Principal’s Report

Dear Fortians, Parents and Carers,

As we move deeper into Term 2, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our Year 12 students. They have recently completed their HSC Trial exams and have now returned to class for their final five weeks of preparation. Many of our students are making final preparations for their upcoming HSC practical performances and projects, while the HSC Language oral exams officially commenced over the weekend. We extend our very best wishes to the HSC Class of 2025 as they undertake their exams and submit their major works in the coming weeks. Your perseverance and commitment are truly commendable.

Multicultural Day

Today we celebrated Multicultural Day with a whole school assembly and lunchtime food stalls which was a vibrant celebration of the rich cultural diversity within our school community. This diversity is one of our greatest strengths, fostering understanding, respect, and friendship among all. Fort Street High School is truly a multicultural community, with students representing 26 different countries of birth and speaking 44 different languages at home. The most common languages spoken, apart from English, include Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Korean, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Japanese. I encourage all students and staff to take pride in their cultural heritage. A huge thank you to the cultural performers and flag bearers who contributed to making our assembly a memorable event.

SRC Elections

Looking ahead, our Student Representative Council (SRC) elections will be held on Friday, 5 September, during year meetings. I encourage all students to consider nominating for the SRC. Being part of the SRC is a fantastic opportunity to develop leadership skills, have your voice heard, and actively contribute to shaping the school community. Serving as an SRC representative allows you to represent your peers, bring forward ideas and concerns, and participate in meaningful decision-making processes. It is a rewarding way to make a positive difference at Fort Street High School and build valuable experience that will benefit you well beyond your school years.

Congratulations

I am delighted to share some wonderful achievements from our students. Last week, I had the absolute pleasure of attending the NSW Public Education Awards 2025 at Sydney Town Hall to personally congratulate Eleanor A-L and Dante D. Both were honoured with the Minister’s Award for Excellence, presented by the Hon. Courtney Houssos, MLC, Acting Minister for Education. These prestigious awards recognise outstanding achievement and dedication, and we are incredibly proud of Eleanor and Dante’s success.

In sporting news, Christopher S from Year 10 won the Sydney North Championships on Friday, 20 June, and will proudly represent the Sydney North team at the upcoming NSW CHS Tennis State Team Championships in August. Christopher’s recent victory in the Under 16 Boys Singles at the Premier Series 250 in Batemans Bay further exemplifies his outstanding talent and dedication.

Thank you all for your ongoing commitment to the Fort Street High School community.

Upcoming Events Term 3

Week 5:

All Week:

– House Volleyball Competition, during lunch

– Book Week events, recess and lunch – Library

Monday 18 August: In Concert Performance, Sydney Opera House

Tuesday19 August: Stage 4 Debating, Ashfield Boys High School

Tuesday19 August: Careers Fair, Year 11 and 12 – School Hall Periods 5 and 6

Wednesday 20 August: School Musical matinee performance, periods 3 and 4 Hall

Thursday 21 August: School Musical evening performance, School Hall

Friday 22 August: Year 9 and 12 Year Meetings, Period 2

Friday 22 August: School Musical evening performance, School Hall

Friday 22 August: Second Hand Uniform Stall – Lunch outside uniform shop

Week 6:

All Week:

– House Volleyball Competition, during lunch

– Book Week events, recess and lunch – Library

Monday 25 August: Year 9 History Excursion – ANZAC Memorial

Tuesday 26 August: Robotics NSW Open Competition, years 8-12

Wednesday 27 August: Year 7 Geography/History Excursions, all day

Thursday 28 August: Year 8 Technology Assessment Race Day

Thursday 28 August: Year 9 PDHPE Wheelchair Basketball – Gym

Thursday 28 August: HSC Drama Practical Exam

Friday 29 August: Wear it Purple Day guest speakers at assembly/bake sale at lunch

Friday 29 August: Pathways to Law Seminar – Yrs 11 and 12 Legal Classes P3&P4

Week 7:

All Week:

– House Mario Kart Competition, during lunch

Monday 1 September: Year 8 Geography/History Excursions, all day

Tuesday 2 September: NSW Volleyball Schools Cup

Tuesday 2 September: Year 12 HSC Showcase evening – School Hall

Tuesday 2 September: Jazz Orchestra Performance, Lazybones Lounge, evening

Thursday 4 September: IMP and Year 11 Music Soiree, School Hall, evening

Friday 5 September: SRC Elections, period 2

Friday 5 September: NSW Volleyball Schools Cup

Week 8:

All Week:

– House Mario Kart Competition, during lunch

– Year 11 Preliminary Examinations

Monday 8 September: PISA Testing

Wednesday 10 September: Year 9 Duke of Edinburgh Camp, Somerset

Wednesday 10 September: P&C Meeting, Online 7pm

Thursday 11 September: Year 9 Duke of Edinburgh Camp, Somerset

Thursday 11 September: Year 10 Music Excursion

Friday 12 September: Year 9 Duke of Edinburgh Camp, Somerset

Year 11 Japanese Speaking Day

Year 11 students of Japanese practise their HSC speaking skill with students  and teacher from Hurlstone Agricultural High School and the two Japanese native-speaker teachers from the Tanken Centre at Kirrawee High School. The event went well and hopefully it will be an annual occurrence. 

2025 National Geography Competition

The Social Science faculty are thrilled to announce the outstanding achievements of our students in the recent 2025 National Geography Competition! Our talented participants showcased their expertise and passion for Geography, earning remarkable results. This year Fort Street students have mirrored the success of the Australian team at the International Geography Olympiad in Thailand, who were able to secure a gold medal, a silver medal and two bronze medals. 

An enthusiastic group of 30 students from Fort Street competed against some of the best Geographers from across the nation. They demonstrated not only their knowledge of geography but also their ability to think critically and apply what they have learned in real-world contexts. The competition included various challenging components, such as map reading, geographical analysis, and even a quiz on current global events.

Of particular note:

• Four students achieved in the top 1% of the country within their age group. Congratulations Aryadeep Routray, Evie Cairns, Reuben Winkler and Jethro Shapiro-Liu! This is double the result of last year’s contestants.
• 63% of Fortian entrants earned a High Distinction or Distinction result.

We are incredibly proud of all the participants. Their commitment to learning and excellence reflects the spirit of our school. We encourage all students to continue exploring and nurturing their interests in geography and the world around them and enter next year’s competition.

Mr David Latimer

Acting Head Teacher of Social Sciences

Year 11 Food Technology Report: ‘Food for Fort’ Restaurant Service

Prepared by: Nghi Le and Sara Nguyen

Date: Friday, 27th June 2025

1. Introduction

On Friday, 27th June, the Year 11 Food Technology class hosted a formal lunch service event, creating and presenting a three-course Western-style meal under the restaurant name ‘Food for Fort’. This task was designed to enhance our practical culinary skills, teamwork, time management, and knowledge of food service and dining etiquette.

Our honoured guests for the day were Ms McMurray, Mr Dong, and Mr Sherwin, who were invited to experience our food and service in a simulated restaurant environment.

2. Planning and Preparation

In the weeks leading up to the event, we carefully prepared by selecting our menu, dividing into course teams, and practicing service standards. Students were grouped according to their culinary strengths into three teams: Entrée, Main, and Dessert. Each team was responsible for planning, preparing, plating, and presenting their course in a cohesive manner. We also practiced setting tables, using formal place settings, and following correct food-handling procedures.

3. The Menu

Cuisine Theme: Modern Australian Food Our chosen menu aimed to balance flavour, presentation, and guest satisfaction:

• Entrée: Beef sliders served with coleslaw, sweet potato fries, and tomato chutney
• Main Course: Roast chicken accompanied by green beans, mashed potatoes, and gravy
• Dessert: Guest choice between tiramisu or strawberry shortcake
• Beverage: Black Raspberry Lemonade mocktail (refilled throughout the meal)

Each item was designed to complement the others while showcasing a variety of textures, colours, and preparation methods.

4. Service and Presentation

Upon arrival, our guests were seated at a large banquet-style table. Prior to service, we set the table with care, ensuring correct placement of plates, utensils, glasses, and napkins. Each course was served in a timely and professional manner, with students acting as both kitchen and front-of-house staff.

Throughout the meal, we engaged with our guests in polite and friendly conversation, practicing appropriate dining etiquette and customer service techniques.

5. Reflections and Learning Outcomes

This event provided a valuable real-world learning experience. As students, we gained confidence in working under timed conditions and learned how to function as a team in a high-pressure environment. Key skills developed included:

• Meal planning and execution
• Time and resource management
• Formal table setting and guest service
• Communication and teamwork
• Adapting to guest feedback in real time

Overall, the event was a great success and well-received by our guests.

6. Acknowledgements

We would like to sincerely thank Ms Meissner for her guidance and support throughout this task. Special thanks also go to our guests, Ms McMurray, Mr Dong, and Mr Sherwin, for attending and making the event meaningful. We hope you enjoyed the experience as much as we did!

7. Conclusion

The ‘Food for Fort’ restaurant simulation was an enjoyable and enriching experience for the Year 11 Food Technology class. It allowed us to apply our learning in a practical context and develop essential life and industry skills. We look forward to future opportunities to build on this experience.

NSW SCHOOLS TITRATION COMPETITION 2025

Eight teams made up of Year 12 Chemistry students, participated in the N.S.W Titration competition which was held at the University of Western Sydney, Parramatta Campus in June.

The competition involves, students working in teams of three to determine the concentration of an acid using analytical techniques.

From the thirty teams that participated at the University, three of our teams were awarded first, second and third place. An excellent achievement. The students in the teams were:

1st place: Max BAI, Riley HENDRA and Timothy SIM

2nd place: Sean LEE, Jayden NGYUEN and Waiz Al RASHID

3rd place: Lucas CHEUNG, Aditya DEODHAR and Jeffrey WANG

When the scores from the other schools are processed by the universities, later this month, we will find out, how many of our teams will make it through to the Nationals, in September.

T. Leondios

Titration Coordinator

Year 8 French Breakfast

On the 2nd of July, Classes 😯 and 8I embarked on a culinary journey into the world of authentic French cuisine to celebrate the students’ achievements in the first semester and to further enhance our knowledge of french food. 

It all started in period 2, where 😯 waited eagerly outside the classroom and walked into the room to see a table with a vast array of traditional French treats. There were flaky croissants and rich pain au chocolat. There were fresh baguettes which were served with unique types of french cheese (fromage) and butter (beurre) as well as jam (confiture). Chocolate biscuits were also served. To top it off, velvety, creamy hot chocolate (chocolat chaud) was served, acting as the perfect refreshment. 

Overall, the French Food Breakfast was a delicious and memorable way to mark the end of a successful term and further educate us and give us the opportunity to eat French food that was super yummy, or as they say in french, Miam Miam!

Written by Ashleigh Pitzing, 😯

Year 9 French: Paris Fashion Week

At the end of Term 2, at the same time as the real Paris Fashion Week was taking place across the globe, the Year 9 French class held their very own Paris Fashion Week. After a few weeks of learning important vocabulary about body parts, clothes, and adjectives, it was time to dress up and parade on the defilé de mode (the runway). We witnessed a range of stunning outfits including fur coats, berets, gilets jaunes (high-vis vests), tutus, lots of stripes, lion heads, crowns and sparkles. It was magnifique to watch and hear the commentary of each person’s outfit. After the show, we followed the lead of all Parisian models by taste testing and ranking the best croissants in Sydney.

Mr de Jong

Year 11 History Museum Exhibition

For Ancient History, we created a museum exhibit to demonstrate our knowledge of the complexities associated with the issue of ownership for many artefacts in museums around the world. The question of “who owns the past” is contentious, and, by attempting to answer it, we learnt much about the issues and aspects of the representation and commemoration of history in museums. Creating the museum display itself was an enjoyable cooperative experience, involving the combination of different skill sets to form one cohesive work. Discussing ideas, formulating plans, and eventually constructing the exhibition were all good fun, and helped improve our teamwork. The exhibition of the displays by both the Modern History and Ancient History cohorts was a rousing success. There was a high turnout of museum-goers, and there was high participation and engagement. Being able to present the fruits of our labours to a curious audience is definitely an experience that far surpasses writing essays. Our museum display on the Benin Bronzes incorporated ideas and inspiration from our excursion to the Chau Chak Wing museum, which informed us of the factors and careful thought that went into each meticulously arranged exhibit. Lighting, accessibility, clarity and even height needed to be taken into account to cater to all audiences, and this inspired some components of our exhibit, such as the raised artefacts and lifted plaques. In addition, the museum helped answer questions pertaining to the ownership of artefacts, giving a glimpse into the repatriation of stolen artefacts through its exhibit on the Gweagal Spears. So, back to the question; “Who owns the past?” You’ll have to choose Ancient History to find out. Thank you to the teachers that made the exhibition possible, and thank you to the people who chose our display for the People’s Choice Award.

Thanks,

Caiyuan, Anna and Aimee

For our modern history museum, we researched J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the Atomic Bomb. Throughout the process, we developed our research, presentation and teamwork skills. First, we divided the task and assigned a role to each member, then tried to consistently spend small amounts of time working on the research. We all enjoyed designing the museum, using both our creative and scientific skills to create artefacts or models. Overall, this project was a fun and educational experience for us, and we were really proud of how we were received.

– Clara, Hyejeong Erin, Lara, and Sophia

A note from Ms Wark

The museum exhibition is a huge task and I wanted to thank all the Modern and Ancient History students for their hard work and enthusiasm with which they approached the museum exhibit. Special congratulations go to the winners of the hotly contested People’s Choice Awards: Aimee, Anna and Caiyuan (Ancient) and Sophia, Lara, Hyejeong Erin and Clara.

Wellbeing Corner

Supporting Punctuality

Earlier this term, we reset our expectations around student punctuality and outlined a clear process for managing unexplained lateness. Since then, we’ve been really pleased to see a significant decline in late arrivals across all year groups. Thank you for your support in helping us reinforce this message at home.

Arriving at school on time sets a positive tone for the day and ensures students don’t miss out on essential learning and connection with their peers. While we understand that occasional lateness may be unavoidable, it’s encouraging to see the majority of students consistently arriving before the bell and we want to maintain this momentum.

A reminder that students who arrive late to school four times in a term without a valid explanation will receive an afternoon detention. This system is automated, and parents and students are notified via email.

Thank you again for your continued support. When school and families work in partnership to build positive habits, we give every student the best opportunity to thrive.

Parent Workshop: Supporting Emotional Regulation

We are pleased to share an upcoming free online parent workshop run by the UTS Kidman Centre as part of their wellbeing series for families.

Workshop 5: Body Calm – Relaxation Skills to Support Emotional Distress

🗓 Tuesday 26 August 2025 | 🕕 6:00–7:00PM | 💻 Online (via Zoom)

Who is this for? Parents and caregivers

What will it cover? Does your child experience nausea, muscle tension, a racing heart, or other physiological signs of distress? This workshop explores body-based coping tools including progressive muscle relaxation, calming breath techniques, grounding skills, and mindfulness to help regulate the body’s response to stress.

You can register directly via the link below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeiGYH3k2_uFLfZsVhNgXZrYe8tWfaFtcQaWGKtHBrUrwGUcA/viewform

The full program flyer is below for those interested in other upcoming sessions.

Burwood Youth Outreach Program (BYOP)

Looking for something fun and social after school? The Burwood Youth Outreach Program (BYOP) is a free, drop-in space for young people to enjoy games, sport, snacks, and mini challenges with qualified Youth Workers from Fusion Empower, in partnership with Burwood Council.

🗓 Thursdays, 3–5pm during Term 3

📍 Burwood Park Community Centre + Burwood Uniting Church

It’s a great way for students to connect, unwind, and meet others in a safe, welcoming environment. See the flyer below for full dates and locations

Raise Mentoring Excursion to Google Headquaters

This week the students participating in this years Raise mentoring program were invited to visit the Sydney Google headquarters. Year 8 and 9 students and their mentors (one of which currently works at Google) heard from different staff about what its like to work there, and what pathways they took to get to Google. Each person had a very different story about how their journey to Google came to be, and gave great advice about finding your passion and being resilient in the face of change. We had a tour of the headquarters and came across some very interesting features such as a games room, band room, craft room and an all you can eat snack bar! To finish we were treated to their staff daily buffet (free!) lunch. It was an exciting opportunity and great to hear from people speak about how important mentorship has been for them, throughout their lives and careers. Thank you to the Raise mentors for organising this day for us.

Book Talk

Book Talk – Graphic Novels

In recent years, graphic novels have seen a significant rise in popularity. This is certainly evident in the borrowing habits of students at Fort Street High. Previously dismissed as mere entertainment for children, graphic novels have enjoyed a rise in reputation, now acknowledged as a tool for promoting reading for pleasure, and recognised as a literary artform that may address serious and mature concerns. Indeed, in 1992, the graphic novel ‘Maus’ by Art Spiegelman became the first graphic novel to win a Pulitzer Prize.

The term ‘graphic novel’ was first used in the 1960s by Richard Kyle. As noted in ‘The Publishing Post’, there has been continued confusion between comic books and graphic novels and ‘there remains some contention about where exactly the boundary between these two media lies’. While graphic novels and comic books have distinct traits, they are different forms. Graphic novels tell complete stories through illustrations while comic books are often excerpted from a larger narrative. And a huge subgroup of the graphic novel is manga, a style of Japanese comic books and graphic novels, typically aimed at adults as well as children. In Japan today more paper is used for printing manga than for producing toilet paper. The world however has embraced the graphic novel beyond Japan, so much so that it is the fastest growing book format globally for children and adults.

At Fort Street High, we encourage the students to read widely, to appreciate the reading smorgasbord of which graphic novels have become a firm part of.

Some top graphic novels in our library collection include-

# ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ by Francois Riviere (based on Agatha Christie)

# ‘The Road’ by Manu Larcenet (based on Cormac McCarthy)

# ‘Beowulf’, a retelling by Gareth Hinds

# ‘Coraline’ by P Craig Russell (based on Neil Gaiman’s novel)

# ‘Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451’, a retelling by Tim Hamilton

# ‘Heartstopper’ by Alice Oseman

# ‘Wings of Fire’, a graphic series by Sutherland and Holmes

# ‘Stormbreaker’ by Anthony Horowitz, Antony Johnston, Kanako & Yuzuru

# William Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’, adapted by David Messer

# ‘The Complete Maus’ by Art Spiegelman

Book Week 2025 25th – 29th August

This year we will be celebrating 80 years of Book Week, an event that has fostered a love of reading amongst children since 1945 and we hope will continue to do so for many years to come. At Fort Street we will be celebrating each day of week 6 with different literary games for students to participate in at recess and lunch. Guessing games, a library treasure hunt, puzzles, and more! We will have prizes for the winners, recently donated books and other bookish merchandise. Make sure you come down to the library to have a go at our games and borrow a book or two!

The Library Team

SRC Update

Hey Fort Street!

Welcome back to Term 3! This term’s a busy term at the Fort with trials, prelims and HSC exams – but that doesn’t mean the SRC won’t be treating you to some exciting events to get the school spirit flowing. So… what can you look forward to??

Just quickly – what’s the best thing about Switzerland? Well actually, I don’t know – but the flag is a big plus!

Arguably one of our most renowned events of the year – Multicultural Day is making a return! Multicultural Day will be held on Friday August 15th with over 20 different cultural stalls open at recess and lunch in the Kilgour Quad to showcase the incredible cultures that make up our school community. We invite you to wear your best cultural dress – whether that’s a football jersey or traditional clothing – and represent your culture with us next Friday. The SRC will also be running a photobooth to capture all your fabulous cultural displays, with 1 polaroid for $1.5 and 3 for $4.  Plus! The SRC will be hosting a Multicultural Day assembly, bringing back our flag bearing parade and possibly a performance or two 🙈. Please make sure to bring cash on the day as the majority of the stalls will not have card readers available :).

What else is happening this term you ask? Well, Fort Street is participating in a Combined Schools Stationery Drive with schools across Sydney to donate stationery to Hoa Mai Orphanage in Vietnam. Hoa Mai Orphanage, located in Da Nang has been operating for nearly 30 years and is currently caring for 45 orphans and vulnerable children aged 5-18 years old. Each child is given the opportunity to learn and indulge in education, ensuring that children have the option and ability to complete primary school through to university. Whilst acting as an orphanage, Hoa Mai orphanage also aids the community by opening its doors to disadvantaged families. However, the economic condition of the orphanage is relatively poor, hence high schools across Sydney have come together to support this wonderful community. 

So what can you do to help? The SRC will be accepting donations of unused and unopened stationary from the 11th – 29th August, this can include notebooks, pens, pencils, highlighters, textas, erasers etc! However we ask that no scissors are to be donated please. Please bring all donations to the front office for collection. All stationery will be delivered to the orphanage mid-late September for use by the children and local schools in the community. 

Oh and before we forget! SRC Elections are coming up later this term – so make sure to start thinking about if you’d like to run for SRC in 2026. If you enjoy helping out your school community and want to get involved with changing the school, then this is the role for you! More information will be coming out later this term and we’re excited for what next year has to offer. 

Have a lovely Term 3 Fort Street! 

SRC Execs 2024/25 ❤️

IMP Update

IMP Winter Concert 2025

The IMP Winter Concert, held on Friday 27th of June 2025, was a massive success with stellar performances by all 13 ensembles. The night opened with the Wind Ensemble’s stunning performance of Russian Christmas Music, by Alfred Reed, and wrapped up with the Symphony Orchestra’s passionate interpretation of the finale from Symphony No. 5 by Dmitri Shostakovich. Passion and enthusiasm were demonstrated by all ensembles throughout the evening.

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

The Winter Concert could not have happened without the collaboration and efforts of IMP Coordinator and Director of Bands, Matthew Manchester, the conductors, tutors, Fort Street staff and teachers, the hard-working IMP Committee, parent volunteers, families and, most importantly, the students.

Auditions Wrap-up

Thanks to the 130 musicians who have completed auditions in the past few weeks to fill spaces left by the retiring Year 12 cohort. The new lineup for all senior IMP ensembles is very exciting indeed, and musicians who took part can be sure that they are now in the chair that best suits their musical progression right now. Huge congratulations to everyone who was involved in the auditions process. It is a time that is equally nerve-wracking and exciting for both conductors and participants!

September Soiree

The IMP and classroom music are joining forces to present an informal Soiree in the school Hall on the evening of Thursday 4th of September. This short, free concert will feature any IMP ensembles who have not had another performance opportunity in Term 3, as well as a selection of Year 11 HSC Music candidates, who will present a piece from their preliminary exam programs. All of the IMP and school community are welcome to attend. The plan is for these Soiree concerts to take place at the end of Term 1 and Term 3 each year.

Term 3 IMP gigs

In addition to the Percussion Eisteddfod, and the upcoming September Soiree, the IMP has a big list of gigs coming up this term:

• Vocal Ensemble will perform in the Sydney Opera House for In Concert (the Secondary Choral Festival) on Monday 18 August
• IMP members will perform as the show band for the school musical: Addams Family, on 20, 21, and 22 August
• Jazz Orchestra will perform at Lazybones Lounge on Tuesday 2 September
• Chamber Choir and Vocal Ensemble will join forces with local community choirs to present Choir for Life, a concert celebrating singing and community, and raising money for Headspace! This will take place on Thursday 25 September.

Emails will be sent to each ensemble with an overview of Term 3 and 4 gigs for your diaries.

Fort Street student reaches final stage of 2025 National Youth Concerto competition

Congratulations to Clara Moloney who has been chosen as one of just three finalists in the 2025 National Youth Concerto competition. Clara will travel to Brisbane in October to perform a solo recital and the Dvorak cello concerto with the Queensland Youth Orchestra.

Percussion Ensembles shines at Australian Percussion Eisteddfod

On Sunday 27 July, The Senior and Junior Percussion Ensembles, conducted by Kerryn Joyce, competed at the Australian Percussion Eisteddfod, hosted by Sydney Grammar School. Both ensembles were privileged to play in the wonderful Grammar concert hall, with its imposing sandstone backdrop, and hear a wide variety of other percussion ensembles from around Sydney. This was a real eye-opener for many of our students, and it is fair to say that both ensembles have returned to school electrified and inspired by what they saw, and the experience of playing in this fantastic event!

Both groups performed very well, with Junior Percussion taking out Bronze in their section, and Senior Percussion taking out Silver in the premium section.

A particular highlight of the day was a reunion with former IMP Percussion director, Martin Highland, who was helping out on the day. The Senior Percussion Ensemble is pictured below with Martin, and our new percussion director, Kerryn Joyce.

Photo 1: Senior Percussion Ensemble pictured with Martin Highland and Fort Street High School’s new percussion director, Kerryn Joyce.

Photo 2. Junior Percussion Ensemble wins bronze at Australian Percussion Eisteddford.

Photo 3. Senior Percussion Ensemble wins silver at Australian Percussion Eisteddford.

2025 Boys Vocal Program video released

The 2025 NSW Arts Unit Boys Vocal Program was held over three days at Trackdown Studios and culminated in a music video ‘Not a Man Yet’ featuring IMP member Flint Foote.

The video is now live on the Arts Unit website and can be viewed here: https://artsunit.nsw.edu.au/program/boys-vocal-program

Careers Office News

UNSW’s School of Computer Science and Engineering is running its very popular HS1511 course again this term! Expressions of interest are now open to students via the link below. We are prioritising students in year 10 and 11.

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/qjLm3XVBw6

I will be convening this course, delivering lectures, and will be the main point of contact. This course involves an introduction to computer science as taught at the university level. Course content mimics that of the first-year courses and involves content such as:

• Introduction to C
• Variables and data types
• Loops and conditional operation
• Memory management
• Data structures
• Introductory algorithms

This program is run entirely online with an expected contact hour workload of only 3-5 hours per week.

This is open to students as young as year 9 and up to year 12, however year 10 and 11 will be shown preference.

Kristian Mansfield

In other news…

Fort Street P&C

Meeting Held 13th August 2025

Student Representative Council Report

· Multicultural Day on August 15, hosted by Year 9 SRC.

· Second hand Uniform Sale on August 22.

· SRC Elections scheduled for Week 7. Good luck to all our future leaders!

· Outgoing SRC expressed gratitude for P&C support.

Secretary’s Report

· Upcoming purchase, two motions passed: funding for a laptop for the uniform shop and Zoom renewal.

Principal’s Report

· Acknowledged contributions to uniform photoshoot.

· Year 10 Commerce stalls raised funds.

· Successful parent-teacher nights held.

· Year 11 Food Tech class hosted a three-course meal.

· IMP Winter Concert faced capacity issues.

· Notable achievements: two students received Minister’s Awards.

· Upcoming events include Multicultural Day and Careers Fair.

Treasurer’s Report

· Creating additional cash term deposits were discussed and will be followed up with the Treasurer who was unable to attend this meeting.

· Suggested prioritization list for expenditures.

· Discussed potential projects: canteen upgrades, shade solutions, and collaborative murals.

IMP Report – first presentation by Paula Katalinic, woohoo!

· New IMP leadership elected.

· 120 auditions completed for ensembles.

· Winter concert was a success, did face overcrowding; solutions being explored.

· P&C confirmed $10,000 capped annual funding for instruments.

General Business

· Fairy lights for Fountain Quad (to be used in Fort Fest) discussed; quotes received.

· P&C insurance renewal motion passed.

· Snack bar volunteers needed for the Addams Family Musical.

· FlexiPOS system trial for the Uniform Shop approved.

Membership Administration

· Current membership stands at 24 financial members.

Acknowledgement

· Teachers involved in trial exams acknowledged for smooth process and preparation for HSC.

· Ms. Maddox acknowledged for their passion and effort in the Environment Club.

· Year 10 subject selection night, short, informing and powerful, acknowledged by Juliette

· Sivvy acknowledged for efforts in getting IMP volunteers in

· Positive feedback received from public about good behavior of Year 7 students on the train.

· Ms. Mattick thanked for staying to pack down and clear bins after the IMP Winter Concert.

Special Thanks from P & C

· Heartfelt thanks to Beatrice Shimada and Avivi Davidson, for their contributions as the SRC’s P&C reps

Next Meeting

· Scheduled for September 10, 2025, online.