Mercurius Issue 7 – June 2021 - 7 Jun 2021
Principal’s Report

Principal’s Report

Dear Fortians, Parents and Carers,

Congratulations

On Monday 31 May the Public Education Foundation hosted its annual Proudly Public Awards ceremony at the Sydney Town Hall. The event recognises the achievements of scholarship recipients and celebrates the many wonderful things that happen in public schools across Australia. Students, parents, educators, Members of Parliament, the NSW Minister and Secretary of Education and public supporters attend the event. This year Jack Coleman (Year 12) received a Ministers Award and Jean Hinchcliffe (Year 12) delivered the keynote address at this event. Past keynote speakers have included High Court Justice Michael Kirby, Paralympic Champion Kurt Fearnley, Professor Behrendt, Socceroos Captain Craig Foster and Nobel Prize winning physicist Brian Schmidt. Jean’s keynote was outstanding and we are very proud of her.

On Monday 31 May, 18 students participated in the boys secondary schools Table Tennis Championships. Two groups, Justin Zhao and Alex Li (Year 7) and Eddie Chen and Austin Du (Year 10) made it to the second round. Louis Chu (Year 7) made it all the way to the semi-final in the competitive repertoire. More importantly, all the students had a fun day enjoying what they love to do.

Fort Street High School – Open Evening – 29 July

On the evening of Thursday 29 July to coincide with NSW Education Week, Fort Street will be open from 6pm until 8pm for student led tours around the school and presentations in the School Hall from myself, the current SRC President, current Year 7 students and the P&C President. There will also be performances from various IMP ensemble groups and finger food prepared and served in the Fountain Quad by our senior Hospitality students. The school will be open to any current or prospective parents and members of the general community to visit and to celebrate public education. All visitors will be requested to register on the night using the schools QR Code on the evening and to stay away if they have the mildest flu-like symptoms.

The school’s Ron Horan Museum will also be officially open for visitors for the first time during this event and will be included on the student led tours of the school.

School Musical – Matilda – 25 and 26 August

Fort Street High School will be producing a musical as our annual school production. After the horrible year that was 2020, we think that we all need something fun and light to share as a school community. So firstly – it is my pleasure to invite you all to please save the date on either the 25 or 26 August (evening) to come along and see Matilda in our school hall. There will be more specific details sent out closer to the date, as well as information about how to buy tickets.

Producing a musical is always a huge endeavour, as they usually have more complicated set, costume and technical requirements than a standard play. The P&C have already been fantastic in showing huge support for the production; however, we are reaching out to the broader parent body for further assistance. We are seeking help in costume making, set construction, help on the night, and also donations. If you feel you could assist, please complete the following google form.

https://forms.gle/Kq1fesieg6c82kCj6​

We are also looking for donations of grey uniform items that will be used as costumes for the cast. If you have any grey school shorts (not trousers), grey button up shirts (short or long sleeved), grey jumpers or vests or grey school blazers, please pop them in a bag and leave them at the front office. Please note that there may be alterations made to these pieces so they are donations rather than loans. Please also put your names on the donations so I can acknowledge your very helpful assistance!

We look forward to sharing this exciting event with the school community and thank you in advance for your support.

 

Remote Learning Information Update

We are currently in the process of reviewing our plans to support the ongoing delivery of education should there need to be a period of time where students and staff are unable to attend school. Fort Street High School moved swiftly to remote learning in 2020 and is more than prepared to do so again should it become necessary.

To assist us with ensuring continuity of education should this occur we would ask parents and carers to complete the following brief survey (click on the link below) only if:

1.      Your child does not have a device or internet access at home.

OR

2.      Your home address or phone contact details have changed or need updating

https://forms.office.com/r/FJdy9Kp8zr

You can rest assured that our teachers are already using online platforms for lesson and content delivery, often in conjunction with pushing out content through the Sentral Portal and/or to student emails. This will enable us to move swiftly to a remote environment should it be necessary. We will communicate with you immediately if our staff and students are unable to attend school and in the first instance, all classes will be based on the existing timetable for all students. Any change to this would then be communicated to you.

We encourage all our families to also become familiar and check out the parent resources from the e-safety commissioner to assist your child to be safe online. Use this link​ to access these resources.

 

Recognition Assemblies

Recognition Assemblies

The assemblies to recognise the efforts and achievements of students in Semester 1 are drawing to a close.  Recently Year 7 students experienced their first time being applauded by the whole school for their commitment to studies.  They had to be nominated by teachers in two or more subjects in order to qualify for a certificate.

Fewer Year 10 individuals received this award because a large number of students were acknowledged as hardworking and successful in one subject.

NSW Parliament Secondary Schools Leadership Program

NSW Parliament Secondary Schools Leadership Program

On Wednesday 19th May 2021, Leann Ng and I (Christina Lee) attended the NSW
Parliament Secondary Schools Leadership Program which was held at the NSW Parliament
House. We were given the opportunity to meet MPs and the Governor of NSW, Her
Excellency Margaret Beazley as well as Year 12 student leaders from various other schools.
Leann and I socialised with some of the other students, spending most of our time with the
representatives from James Ruse High School and Strathfield Girls High School. We listened
to different MPs including Mr Jamie Parker, Ms Jenny Leong and Ms Julia Finn, who spoke
about their experience and provided valuable advice for students pursuing careers in
leadership. After this insightful talk, which also included a brief Q and A session, Leann and
I personally spoke to Ms Jenny Leong, whose passionate speech was very inspiring, and took
a photo with her.

The students were then given a tour of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly
chambers. Here, we learned about the history behind our system of government,
parliamentary proceedings, and the symbolic value of many of the features of the chambers.
This was a very interesting learning experience. After this, we were provided lunch.
Following lunch, we were led back to the same hall, where we watched an introduction video
of Her Excellency Margaret Beazley’s role as Governor. We took a scenic route through the
Royal Botanical Gardens to get to the Governor’s house. We were given a brief tour of the
house on the ground level, before we were told to wait outside for her Excellency to greet us.
This gave Christina and I the opportunity to explore her beautiful garden, which had a
fountain, and a breath-taking view.

When her Excellency arrived, we were given the privilege of asking her questions. Even
though she admitted to working countless hours, 7 days a week, it was intriguing to get to
know about her personal interests. She explained how much she appreciated theatre and
musicals, such as Hamilton, an amazing masterpiece. In most of her spare time, she would
read books. Her Excellency also claims that she loves meeting the diverse range of people as
Governor.

Overall, it was a very insightful and interesting experience for the two of us.

Leann Ng and Christina Lee

Matilda is coming to Fort Street

Matilda is coming to Fort Street

Fort Street High School will be presenting Roald Dahl’s Matilda on August 25th and 26th 2021. The hard-working staff and cast need a team of parent volunteers to help make the magic happen.

To sign up to help with this fantastic production please follow this link:

Matilda Volunteer Sign Up

 

Can you help with Matilda Costumes?

Our cast of Matilda need grey school uniform.  Do you have grey trousers, shorts, shirts (long or short sleeved), vests, jumpers or blazers to fit high school students?  If you have anything that you can donate please leave it at reception.

Items may be altered to fit and will not be returned.

Fort Street Debating teams continue their WINNING streak!

Fort Street Debating teams continue their WINNING streak!

Congratulations to the Fort Street debating teams:

Yr  9+10  1st Round:  Fort St  Team B (won)  vs. SSC Leichhardt Campus

​Yr  9+10  1st Round:  Fort St  Team A (won)  vs  Canterbury Boys’ High

Yr 9 +10  2nd Round: Fort St   Team A (won ) vs  Fort St Team B

Yr 11+12  3rd Round:  Fort St  Team A ( won ) vs  Beverly Hills Girls’ High 

Charlotte Dillon, Alejo Pintos-Lopez, Satvik Sharma and Luca Butterworth go on to the knockout FINALS!

Netball Club

Netball Club

Every Tuesday morning at the basketball/netball courts, from 7:45 to 8:30, join us for the netball club, where we do some drills, stretch and exercise, and play some games. Coming doesn’t have to be anything serious and a competitive long-term commitment, you can come just for a warm-up in the morning, to learn a new sport or something to log your Duke of Ed hours for.

Come down and familiarise yourself with a new sport and the atmosphere is often relaxed and joking, coming with your friends makes the entire thing better. The drills and practice aren’t to make everyone the perfect netball player, but the sport does allow you to specialise in whichever position you prefer. Whether your specialties lay in speed, endurance, defence, attack, or shooting, netball has a position for you!

Ultimate Frisbee Championship

Ultimate Frisbee Championship

In May, Fort Street students competed in this year’s Ultimate Frisbee Senior School State Championships. Fort Street was able to field both a senior boys, and for the first time, a senior girls team. Both were competitive and well spirited, which is a key aspect of Ultimate Frisbee.

Fort Street has been participating in these championships since at least 2014, and it was really pleasing to see the boys team achieve their best overall result ever, coming 3rd in the state. This team have been playing together as a group for many years, and it was great to see that their hard work in training paid off.

From my view, Karan Bhasin and Daniel Abdul-Khalek were our best players, with Karan showing his developed leadership skills and great intensity, and Daniel showing supreme fitness and big heart, scoring a large percentage of Fort Street’s goals. Daniel is relatively new to the sport but can add it to the long list of sports he is adept at.

It was no surprise that these students were selected to play for the NSW under 18s Boys, along with Ray Chen (aka Mr Frisbee), and both Anna Ivanova and Jade Do for the NSW under 18s Girls team. This is a fine achievement and these students are to be congratulated. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the national championships (to be held in Melbourne) get to go ahead. If so, these students will have a fabulous and unique experience and make the school proud.

Mr O’Neill

Team Manager and Frisbee Tragic

Teachers vs Students Soccer report – Part 3

Teachers vs Students Soccer report – Part 3

Comrades – Today I have sad news to share about the teacher soccer team:

The teachers once again modelled skill, leadership and endurance in playing in both the quarter and semi-final games of soccer today. Game 1 was played at recess against Year 12 aspiring to dethrone the so far unbeaten teachers. With pluck and luck, they put on a good show, managing a solitary goal to match the teacher’s goal scored by the brilliant and humble Mr O’Neill. Being consummate entertainers, the teachers decided to not score again and create drama and tension in the form of a penalty shoot out to decide a winner. With Wilksinson, O’Neill and Galvin all calmly slotting their shots past a gallant Berny Yan, Pagani added his own flavour to the game, knowing that a good plot twist is always a crowd pleaser. Thus, Pagani skilfully and deliberately missed his shot, but was calm in knowing he would save the next 2 as goalkeeper. And that is what he precisely did, recording a tale of redemption as famous as the Count of Monte Cristo, Andy Dufresne from Shawshank or Elsa from Arendelle, winning the game and the adulation of the mob.

The student organisers, now concerned that this ragtag group of ageing, puffing (and deluded) teachers might actually win the whole comp, conspired to manipulate the outcome. They aimed at where they knew the teachers were vulnerable: fitness. Knowing that the teachers usually needed at least a one, although preferably two, week turn around between games, they scheduled the semi-final for lunch on the same day….

Despite this debasement, the teachers showed leadership and resilience, fronting at lunch time with determination and still red faces. Against all odds, the teachers scored a hat trick against the team who fancy themselves as the champions in waiting. This was again enough to please the throbbing crowd, who enthusiastically invaded the pitch to mob each goal scorer. But alas, a combination of success with the students’ devious plan to play tired teachers, and the fact that they were a lot better than us helped them score about a dozen goals. And so ended the dream…. for at least another year.

I’d like to give a big thank you for all the teachers who played, cheered or nursed colleagues during the tournament. I’d also like to thank the crowd of students who supported us teachers so passionately. It made a big difference and was lots of fun. And lastly I’d like to thank the student organisers, Felix Atkin-Bolton, Vino Jeevakan and Matt Brewster for putting on the whole thing which has been enjoyed by so many. Well done.

Mr O’Neill

 

IMP

IMP

IMP Mid-Year Concert

IMP Mid-Year Concert and dinner will be held on Friday 18 June in the Fountain Quad and the school hall. 
The dinner will take place from 5:30-7:00pm 
The Concert will begin at 7:00pm 
This year the entire event will be cashless, and tickets to the concert will be presold. 
Contactless payment will be available at all food stalls, and concert tickets must be purchased online via this link:
Schools Spectacular
Schools Spectacular returns for 2021! If you are interested in auditioning for any of the following individual categories, please click on the linked category for more details:
Featured Instrumentalist – CLOSED
Featured Artist/Backing Vocalist – CLOSED
​Applications for the orchestra and stage band will open Monday 19 July 2021. More information will be available soon HERE.
Please note that the IMP will be auditioning for our usual 24 places in the Combined Choir. These places are offered out to interested Chamber Choir and Vocal Ensemble members, and awarded based age and IMP attendance. We will not know until after the auditions if our contribution to the Combined Choir will be digital or live. More details to follow in Term 3
 
 
Lunar Eclipse

Lunar Eclipse

The Astronomy Club had a sausage sizzle for students out on the FSHS oval organised by the on the night of the lunar eclipse.There were many photos were taken of the moon some using the telescope and a simple iphone.
One parent posted this stunning image on social media and it went viral in minutes!!
The ABC were given permission to use it on the ABC breakfast show and credited  the Fort Street High School Astronomy Club.The image was posted on many of the Inner West Community pages and got thousands of responses.  The Inner West Council also featured it on their Facebook page.

 

Congratulations to the Astronomy Club, and an enormous thank you to our staff who generously gave up their time to supervise what turned out to be around 90 students with picnic rugs on the oval and a BBQ – Brian Webb, Petra Fluitsma, Theo Leondios, Hugh O’Neill, Josh Wilkinson, Amrit Prasad and Joel Morrison.

                                                                                   

ASMR High School Careers Evening

ASMR High School Careers Evening

The Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) is pleased to announce the 2021 High School Careers Evening, to be held next week on Tuesday 8th June at 6:30pm AEST, presented Online via ZOOM.

The goal of this event is to showcase a range of career opportunities in the health and medical sector to high school students in Years 9 to 12.

Registrations for the High School Careers Evening close at 2:00pm on Tuesday 8th June!

For more information click here:

ASMR MRW 2021 HSCE flyer

 

Community Cleaners wanted

Community Cleaners wanted

ISS is a leading global workplace experience and facility management company. In partnership with customers, ISS drives the engagement and well-being of people, minimises the impact on the environment, and protects and maintains property.

Our team is growing and we currently seeking cleaners to join ISS. You will provide high cleaning services to Public Schools, TAFES and Government
Buildings. You will be employed on a casual basis with opportunity to ongoing permanent work. Various of rosters are available; Monday to Friday
early morning (5-9am) and/ or afternoon (2-6pm) and Temporary Disinfecting shifts (11am-3pm).

For more information please see the attached flyer:

Community cleaners flyer