Mercurius Issue 8 2026 - 28 Aug 2026
Principal’s Report

Principal’s Report

It has been a vibrant and exciting time at Fort Street with many wonderful events showcasing the talents and spirit of our school community.

Multicultural Day

Students and staff had a delightful day celebrating the diverse cultures that make up the Fort Street community. A highlight of the Multicultural Day assembly was the student dance performances and the flag-bearing ceremony. At lunch, everyone enjoyed delicious food from around the world, sharing and appreciating our rich cultural heritage.

Senior Drama Production

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the senior drama production, Treasure Island. This outstanding production was written by students and accompanied by music also composed and performed by our talented students. It was inspiring to see so many junior students involved both on stage and behind the scenes. Congratulations and heartfelt thanks to Mr Reveleigh for his dedication in providing this extraordinary opportunity for our students and for delivering such an entertaining evening.

Careers Fair

On Tuesday, our wonderful Careers Adviser, Ms Salisbury, hosted a Careers Fair for Year 11 and 12 students and their parents/carers. Representatives from all major Sydney universities, prestigious tertiary institutions, and scholarship programs were present. This fair provided an excellent chance for students to have one-on-one conversations and ask questions of academics and current students. Special thanks to Ms Salisbury for coordinating this valuable event, and to Mr Leondios for once again running the barbecue.

Wear It Purple Day Assembly

Founded by students at Burwood Girls High School in 2021, Wear It Purple Day celebrates LGBTQIA+ communities and promotes inclusivity and acceptance. This year’s theme, ‘Colours of Courage’, highlights the bravery shown daily by LGBTQIA+ people, allies, and communities. Our whole-school assembly featured the Honourable Justice Michael Kirby, a proud advocate of public education and Fortian, as our guest speaker. Students wore purple alongside their uniforms, and the Diversity Club held a successful bake sale fundraiser at lunchtime.

Uniform and School Expectations

As we move into slightly colder and wetter days, I want to remind everyone of the importance of wearing the school uniform with pride, even on chilly winter days. The uniform not only fosters a sense of community and equality but also promotes a professional and respectful learning environment. Please ensure that students are prepared with appropriate layers underneath their uniform to stay warm and comfortable throughout the school day.

Attendance and Punctuality

I also want to take this opportunity to stress the importance of regular attendance and punctuality. Being present and on time each day ensures that students can fully engage with their learning and participate in the vibrant life of our school. Thank you to families and students for your ongoing commitment to these crucial habits.

Congratulations
  • Ian T (Year 7) currently the Australian Taekwondo Champion of his division and will be soon competing in the National competition.
  • Debating team (Year 8) Billy H, Yvette M-W, Joanna P, Vihaan P and Jayden Y have made it to the regional knockout finals of the Premiers Debating Challenge, their next debate will be against Jannali High School.
  • Zi Kei A(Year 9) was selected to represent NSW as a member of the Dragon Boats NSW State Team Junior Division completing at the 2026 Australian National Dragon Boat Championships in Queensland. In recognition of her selection to represent NSW at the national level Zi Kei has received the official NSW State Representative Award.
  • Xavier A (Year 10) qualified for School Sport Australia’s National Cross Country held in mid-September. The top 4 participants qualify for this through the State Carnival, Xavier came 1st!  Through the school results and club results throughout the year, Xavier has been selected to be a part of the Elite group for a 5km race this weekend at the Abbotts World Major Sydney Marathon event.

Coming Up:

Monday 31 August

  • Year 7 History and Geography Excursion
  • Year 11 Japanese Excursion
  • HSC Visual Arts Bodies of Work Final Submission
  • HSC CAPA Showcase Evening 5.50pm – 7.30pm

Tuesday 1 September

  • Elevate Wellbeing Program

Wednesday 2 September

  • Year 9 Duke of Edinburgh Training Day at school

Thursday 3 September

  • Chess Tournament (Maxwell L Fuller)

Friday 4 September

  • SRC Elections Years 7-10

Weeks 8 and 9 – Year 11 Preliminary Exams

Friday 18 September

  • Fort Fest from 3.30pm to 8pm – Join us for an afternoon of food, games, and entertainment including performances by our Instrumental Music program ensembles. Everyone is welcome!

Thank you for your continued support of the Fort Street community.

Senio Drama Production

Senio Drama Production

[horn sound effect] The ship has sailed!

 

Last week we bid farewell to the 2026 Senior Drama Production of Treasure Island, an adaptation of the well-known novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. Held on Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st of August, we are proud to announce that we had a huge turnout – we sold 249 tickets across the two nights! We would like to express our gratitude towards the FSHS P&C for their ongoing support.

This year the play was the precious brain-child of everyone in the cast. That’s right – we wrote the whole play, complete with mutinies, mayhem, and Fort Street jokes galore! A big shout out to the Year 11 Drama class, Nea T, Linus H and Mr Reveleigh who made the biggest contribution to making sure our script was ship-shape.

And it wasn’t just the script that was new – this year audiences entered the venue to find a traverse stage, faced by seating on both sides (imagine a catwalk down the middle of the hall – and a life-size ship on the other side!). A massive thanks to the student set and props team who worked tirelessly to bring the stage to life, and especially Belinda and Ryan Mestric, who helped us make the ship!

In case you’re curious about the play, here’s a rundown! In it (warning: spoilers! – oh wait, it’s over…) audiences meet Jim Hawkins (Nea T) along with original characters Billie Bones Junior (Elliot S) and Pages (Nainika K), who live in an island tavern with their guardian Granny Barbosa (Sacha A) and bemoan their boring innkeeper lives. However, their boredom is soon washed away when they come face-to-face with grizzled ghost Billy Bones Senior (Gabriel C S) and discover that not only is the ghost Billie’s dad, he’s also been witness to a mutiny, along with the knowledge that a map to treasure may soon pass into pirates’ hands!

Eager to save the day (and perhaps a little too eager to go on an adventure – the same-old island taverns can get a little dull) the trio join the crew of the newly christened Gaudeamus Rigitur, led by Captain Smollett (Alina Z) and her trusty bird Squawks (Bella V). But honest sailors aren’t the only ones onboard – they quickly discover that half the crew is pirates, led by the evil galley-cook-slash-pirate-captain Long John Silver (Lucinda M). Though things get tough – the pirates mutiny, they fight, they find a Fort and long-lost crewmate Ben Gunn (Genevieve M) who found the treasure (but couldn’t remember where he put it…) – with the power of surprisingly good swordsmanship, squeaky chickens, Pokemon battles and friendship, the trio return to their island victorious and with plenty of treasure!

Highlights of the performance were the sea shanty (with student-written lyrics), Granny Barbosa’s dramatic transformation into a bearded pirate, the boisterous pirates, the Pokemon battle between the honest sailors, and of course, we can’t forget the squeaky-chicken fight x tango battle in the Mutiny (the second one out of four) also filled with spectacular swordfighting, choreographed by Gabriel C S and Elliott S.

But of course, you cannot make a fine ship sail without a strong wind and good timber.

First, the cast: they were incredible, rehearsing weekly from 3:15pm to 5pm every Wednesday since Term 4 last year to get the production up and running – they are all amazing and deserve a rest!

A massive thanks to the Costume and Make-up Team led by Genevieve M for the epic and diverse costumes paired with piratey scars (courtesy of Audrey L and Elizabeth U). These were lit up in full thanks to the hard work of the Lighting and AV team, featuring brand new drama light installations in the Hall.

Let’s not leave out the band – conducted by Hugo N. They led epic fighting scenes and moody transitions with flair. A massive shout out to Hugo especially – along with managing band rehearsals on Wednesdays weekly, he wrote and arranged all of the music for the play, and we couldn’t be more thankful for his above-and-beyond work.

Finally, like a supportive wind in the ship’s sails, were the reliable Mrs Thompson (our backstage manager), and Mr Reveleigh (our drama teacher, director, rehearsal manager, and all-round support person). Their hard work has been mindblowing, and we want to give a big thanks for everything they’ve done. We’d also like to thank Ms Morosin, Ms Propsting and Ms Mattick for setting us on the journey, though they’ve now left for their own new horizons.

There were also numerous staff members involved, all of whom made a great impact on the play. Full credits to them and more photos of the production (scroll to the end!) can be found in our digital program: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dvVE8j26EU3bWLRZLkZKLq7pcARxguC2/view?usp=sharing

We hope everyone enjoyed the play – look forward to the next Senior Drama Production, Fort Street!

By Lucinda Man (Year 11 Drama class, 2026)

Year 12 Design & Tech

Year 12 Design & Tech

A Journey of Creativity, Innovation and Achievement

Year 12 Design and Technology students have spent three and a half terms dedicated to the design and development of their major projects. Throughout this challenging and rewarding process, students explored a variety of ideas, conducted numerous experiments, tested different materials and techniques, and developed a range of prototypes. Through continuous refinement, problem-solving and persistence, they transformed their initial concepts into well-designed and highly successful final products.

The students have now successfully completed their outstanding major projects, accompanied by high-quality portfolios that comprehensively document their design journey, experimentation, decision-making and development. Their commitment, creativity and determination throughout the process are truly commendable. Congratulations to all Year 12 Design and Technology students on this significant achievement, and well done on producing such impressive work!

Mr Dong

Chess Semi-Finals

Chess Semi-Finals

Fort Street High School sent a team of four chess players to the Interschool Chess Challenge semi-finals at the Sydney Chess Academy in Burwood on Friday the 21st of August. Our school was proudly represented by Parthiv P. (10), Walter Z. (9), Benjamin T. (9) and Yifei H. (8). Each played seven games against very skilled competition from seven other schools, including Chatswood High school, Normanhurst Boys High School and the International Grammar School.

Our team displayed resilience, acumen, strategy and camaraderie throughout the entire day of competition. Their perseverance resulted in outstanding results: 1st placed school, 1st place player (Yifei), 5th place player (Benjamin) with all players placing in the top eleven. This impressive performance qualified the team for the Interschool Chess Challenge final competition to be held in two weeks.

These boys are all well-respected chess competitors, sharing their wisdom during their breaks by interacting with younger primary and other high school students. Congratulations to each team member for representing yourselves and Fort Street in positive and admirable manner.

Ms Dunn

Astronomy Club

Astronomy Club

Astronomy Club has been up and running again this year, with more thought-provoking discussions on astronomical events and observations. During Term 1, we were fortunate enough to converse over an uncommon total lunar eclipse that occurred in March. In our weekly meetings, we covered topics such as the order of celestial objects, how solar and lunar eclipses are calculated (a simplification of the 3 body problem) and the Artemis 2 mission.

This year’s Astronomy Nights have been an opportunity for all members to apply their knowledge by working with the school’s telescopes and a pair of binoculars kindly provided by Mr Webb. These observation nights have been made possible by Mr Leondioas, who plays a vital role in the organisation, safety, and scheduling of the nights. Thank you to Callum Wong for leading the Astronomy Club: the effort that you put into planning each observation, slewing towards various objects and teaching us more about astronomy hasn’t gone unnoticed. Another thanks to Matthew Summerfield, who has not only helped co-lead this club, but also shared his extensive knowledge of space.

Close up photos of the moon taken by Joshua Wang

Lunar Eclipse photo taken by Callum Wong

Debating Update

Debating Update

On Monday the 10th August, every Premier’s Debating Challenge team from Years 7 to 10 competed in an intra-school round of the competition.

In the morning, Year 7 and 8 went head-to-head in Round 3 of their division with the topic: “That schools should host mock elections for students around the time of major political elections”. Our Year 8 team was affirmative with Yvette as first speaker, Jayden as second speaker, Vihaan as third speaker and Joanna as fourth speaker. On the negative was our Year 7 team with first speaker Taran, second speaker Bon Bon, third speaker Audre and fourth speaker Sophie.

It was a very close debate, with the adjudicator commenting on the volume of rebuttal presented by each team in response to the other’s case. Both teams are to be congratulated on a well-argued debate. In a close decision, the affirmative team (Year 8) won. I’m sure you all join me in congratulating Year 8, as well as Year 7 on an impressive round of debating.

 

Year 9 and 10 PDC – Round 2

Continuing on the same Monday, Years 9 and 10 clashed in their Round 2 debate (which was completed later than Round 3) with the topic: “That Australia should ban Roblox”. Our Year 9 team was affirmative with Ayaan at first, Max at second, Srishti at third and Nirvani at fourth. On the negative side was Year 10 with Nancy at first, Emma at second, Samuel at third and Linus at fourth.

Both teams were initially energised by the prospect of a debate about Roblox, and the topic selection went quite smoothly with both teams electing this topic over the other two options. In the end, it was a close debate focusing on the goods and harms of a ban, with the adjudicator handing it to the negative team (Year 10). Congratulations to Year 10 and to Year 9 for a quality debate.

HSC CAPA Showcase Evening

HSC CAPA Showcase Evening

The CAPA faculty present the 2026 HSC Showcase Evening

Come along on the 31st of August to celebrate the hard work of our Year 12 Visual Arts and Music students from this year. At 5:30pm there will be an exhibition of student bodies of work that they have worked on for 10 months, including a range of paintings, drawings, sculptures and many more! At 6:30pm there will be a concert from our Music students showcasing their major performances and compositions. This will all take place in the school hall. 

We hope to see you there to celebrate the incredible hard work, talent, and accomplishments of our senior CAPA students.

From Ms Capel (Visual Arts teacher), Mr Atkins (Music teacher) and Mrs Thompson (CAPA Head Teacher)

GeoSciEd X Conference

GeoSciEd X Conference

Mr Guy Represents Fort Street at GeoSciEd X Conference

From 14–16 August, I had the opportunity to represent Fort Street High School at the GeoSciEd X Conference in Adelaide (Kaurna Country).

Held every four years, GeoSciEd is the International Geoscience Education Organisation’s flagship conference, bringing together teachers, researchers and education leaders from around the world to share the latest developments in geoscience education. The ideas, resources and professional connections developed at GeoSciEd will directly inform future Earth and Environmental Science lessons, ensuring Fort Street students continue to benefit from the latest research and best practice in science education.

The conference combined field experiences, workshops and presentations focused on improving the teaching of Earth and Environmental Science. It provided an opportunity to exchange ideas with educators from across Australia and overseas, explore innovative teaching approaches, and discuss how geoscience education can inspire the next generation of students.

As part of the conference, I presented to approximately 60 secondary Earth and Environmental Science educators, sharing how Fort Street High School uses evidence-informed teaching strategies to help students analyse geological evidence, connect Earth’s history with modern environmental challenges, and develop a deeper understanding of science. It was particularly rewarding to see the interest in the way we structure our lessons, with many teachers keen to continue the conversation and adapt these approaches for their own classrooms.

Professional learning opportunities such as GeoSciEd ultimately benefit our students. By engaging with current research, collaborating with colleagues and reflecting on effective classroom practice, I return with new ideas, resources and professional connections that will continue to enrich Earth and Environmental Science teaching at Fort Street High School.

One of the unexpected highlights came while exploring Adelaide’s rich geological history. Whenever I mentioned I taught at Fort Street High School, conversations quickly turned to Sir Douglas Mawson and the school’s long association with geoscience. As one of Fort Street’s most distinguished alumni, Mawson’s influence is everywhere in Adelaide—from the University of Adelaide, where he served as Professor of Geology for more than 30 years, to the South Australian Museum, where artefacts from his Antarctic expeditions are proudly displayed. I was even recognised by a former Fort Street student while standing beside a reconstruction of Mawson’s famous Antarctic hut—a reminder that there is seemingly no escaping “The Fort”. It was a lovely reminder that Fort Street’s reputation extends well beyond Sydney and that the school continues to be associated with excellence in science.

Representing Fort Street at an international conference celebrating geoscience education was a privilege and a reminder of the school’s proud scientific heritage. I look forward to bringing the ideas and inspiration from GeoSciEd back into the classroom for the benefit of our students.

Dragon Boating Achievement

Dragon Boating Achievement

Celebrating Zi Kei Au’s Outstanding Achievement in Dragon Boating

We are delighted to share some wonderful news about Zi Kei Au in Year 9, who represented New South Wales as a member of the Dragon Boats NSW State Team – Junior Division. Zi Kei competed at the 2026 Australian National Dragon Boat Championships, held at Lake Kawana, Sunshine Coast, Queensland on 20 April 2026.

In addition to her team selection, Zi Kei has recently been honoured with the official NSW State Representative Award. This award recognises her dedication and commitment in earning the opportunity to represent New South Wales at a highly competitive national level.

Please join us in congratulating Zi Kei on this outstanding achievement and wishing her the very best in any upcoming events.

SRC News

SRC News

Hi Fort!

We’ve wrapped up yet another colourful Multicultural Day on Week 4 Friday 14th August, where students and staff arrived in their favourite cultural dress to celebrate the diversity of cultures here at Fort Street. 

Opening the festivities was the Multicultural Day assembly featuring performances of Chinese dance, singing, the returning Bollywood Beats and the Year 12 K-pop group, followed by a Flag Parade by students and staff. At lunch, we had the Multicultural Day stalls set up in the upper Kilgour, with a total of 16 stalls, ranging from Indian street food to tapioca to Aussie snacks and desserts and of course the everlasting German & Romanian Bakery – a snack for everyone!

A big thank you to all the students who organised stalls and those who joined in on the day by wearing their cultural dress! And of course, a massive shoutout to Mr Prothero, the office staff, and Mr Shakibaei for all their amazing help with organising!

Some photos of the day 🙂

 

From the SRC Execs

Fort Fest Needs You

Fort Fest Needs You

Be part of the Fort Fest Crew

Fort Fest doesn’t happen without an army of amazing volunteers – and we NEED YOUR HELP!

Whether you can spare an hour, two or a whole afternoon, your time is appreciated!

You could be helping with:

  • BBQ and food stalls
  • Games and activities
  • Setting up or packing down
  • Raffles, tokens and merchandise stalls

Sign up today and help make Fort Fest a success: SignUp.com 

All volunteers go into the draw to win a lucky door prize of a $150 sushi platter thanks to Manga Sushi.

Fort Fest 2026 is Coming!

Fort Fest 2026 is Coming!

Fortians, get ready – the biennial Fort Fest is back! 

 

Grab your friends and family and come along for an afternoon of games, food, music and prizes. Most stalls will accept tokens only so grab yours from Trybooking now.

 

What’s on?

  • IMP music and entertainment
  • School tours
  • 2nd hand uniform stall, books, board games
  • Plant and merchandise stall
  • Photobooth
  • Delicious food
    • Pizza
    • Sushi
    • Sausage sizzle & gozleme
    • Chinese food
    • Mexican food
    • Gelato cart
    • Sweet treats and cakes
    • Bubble tea and drinks
  • Carnival games
    • Bubble soccer
    • Brawl Stars
    • Beanbag toss
    • Chocolate coin toss
    • Flower pot ping pong
    • Hook-a-duck
    • Mini basketball
    • Slippery marbles
    • Spin the wheel
    • Tin can alley
    • Pin the tail
    • Hole in one
    • Guess the jellbeans
    • Pie eating competition

 

And don’t forget the fabulous raffle prizes up on offer:

  • 1st Prize: Apple iPad 11″ A16 (128GB, Wi-Fi, Silver)
  • 2nd Prize: Sydney Uni 3-day school holiday sports camp
  • 3rd Prize: 3-month subscription at Lug+Carrie eBikes
  • 4th Prize: 3-month membership at Inner West Aquatic Centres
  • 5th Prize: Double pass to Bell Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’
  • 6th Prize: Double pass to a Belvoir Theatre 2026 season show
  • 7th Prize: 3-month membership at Plus Fitness Leichhardt
  • 8th Prize: Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym Family pass
  • 9th Prize: Australian National Maritime Museum Family ticket
  • 10th Prize: Double pass to ‘Next to Godliness’ at the New Theatre
  • 11th Prize: Double pass to ‘Blithe Spirit’ at the New Theatre
  • 12th Prize: Family pass for a Sydney Observatory Guided Tour
  • 13th Prize: $50 voucher for the Fort Street High School canteen
  • 14th Prize: $50 voucher for the Fort Street High School canteen
  • 15th Prize: BlocHaus bouldering gym 2-week membership
  • 16th Prize: BlocHaus bouldering gym 2-week membership
  • 17th Prize: Entry voucher for NOMAD bouldering gym
  • 18th Prize: Brothers Ben voucher

 

Grab your advance tokens and raffle tickets from Trybooking now.

 

Book Talk

Book Talk

IMP News

IMP News

Fort Street to Host 2026 Choir for Life Fundraising Concert

On Thursday, 4 September 2026, Fort Street will host the 2026 Choir for Life Fundraising Concert. This concert will feature the Fort Street Vocal Ensemble, Fort Street Chamber Choir, and three outstanding local community choirs: Singers Re-Choired, Urban Voices, and Harmoni Pymble.

Senior students may remember the 2023 and 2025 gigs, which were wonderful, life-affirming events that raised significant funds for mental health services in Australia. The event celebrates the positive and measurable effect that singing in a choir can have on both physical and mental wellbeing.

Parents, family members, and friends are warmly encouraged to attend this uplifting evening. All proceeds go to Headspace and ReachOut, two organisations that provide invaluable support for young people’s mental health.

 

Tickets: Adults $15, Students $10, Under 10s Free (performers do not require a ticket)

Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1633175

Time: 7.00pm (doors open 6.45pm) to 8:15pm

Chamber Choir Mesmerises Audience at the Sing Out Choral Festival

On Sunday, 16 August, the Fort Street Chamber Choir, in collaboration with Harmoni Chamber Choir, reprised their performance of Dreamweaver by Ola Gjeilo at the inaugural Inner West Council Sing Out Choral Festival. Conducted by Alex Pringle and accompanied by a professional string quartet, the vocalists performed before an audience of around 700 at White Bay Power Station. The soloist was Sofie Andersen, Fortian (2024), who is now studying classical voice at Sydney Conservatorium.

Once the Dreamweaver performance began, the audience was mesmerised; the hum of background chatter and noise in the rest of the festival subsided and you could hear a pin drop. There were audible gasps from the audience after the performance of Come Sweet Death by J.S. Bach, during which singers were placed around the room. It was an incredible piece of performance art for our students to be involved in.

View snippets of the performances in these social media reels here:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1FM7n6jv9D/?mibextid=wwXIfr

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BWmDtcGYz/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Study Skills

Study Skills

Strengthen recall by combining visuals and active learning

As schoolwork becomes more content-heavy, some students rely on re-reading or highlighting to study, but these passive techniques don’t help the brain remember information effectively. Retrieval maps are a powerful alternative. They combine elements of mind mapping with active recall, helping you test what you know while organising it visually. Retrieval maps strengthen memory, deepen understanding, and make study time far more efficient.

1. Start with a blank page

Unlike mind maps that begin by copying notes, retrieval maps start with nothing on the page except the main topic.

  • Write the central concept in the middle of your page
  • Try to recall the first key ideas without looking at your notes
  • Add only what you remember – no peeking yet!

Starting from memory forces your brain to retrieve information, which is the most effective way to learn.

Tip: If nothing comes to mind at first, jot down just one idea. The act of beginning often triggers more memories.

2. Map the main branches from memory

Once you’ve written the central topic, add the major categories or headings you remember.

  • Think of the big sections: causes, impacts, formulas, characters, themes or processes.
  • Draw short branches labelled with these headings.
  • Keep them simple – one or two words per branch is enough.

Even if your recall isn’t perfect, the goal is to test what your brain can retrieve without support.

Tip: If you leave a branch blank, that’s helpful feedback – it shows where to focus your revision.

3. Fill in sub-points and details

Now add the smaller branches that sit underneath each main heading.

  • Include definitions, examples, steps, diagrams or key terms
  • Only write what you can remember before checking your notes
  • Add quick sketches or symbols to help your brain link ideas.

Building the map in layers helps you see the structure of the topic more clearly.

Tip: Don’t worry if the layout isn’t perfect – retrieval maps are for learning, not for display.

4. Check your notes and fill the gaps

Once you’ve recalled as much as you can, open your notes and compare.

  • Highlight missing information and add it into the map.
  • Correct anything you remembered inaccurately.
  • Look for patterns: which areas were strong, and which were weak?

This step is crucial – filling gaps strengthens memory and deepens understanding.

Tip: Use a different colour for added information so you can clearly see what you forgot.

5. Repeat the retrieval map later

Revisiting the same topic over time cements it in long-term memory.

  • Redo the entire retrieval map another day without looking at the first version
  • Aim to recall more than you did last time
  • Use your improved map to quiz yourself or summarise the topic aloud.

Spaced repetition combined with retrieval practice makes studying more effective and reduces the need for cramming before exams.

Tip: Do a quick retrieval map the night before a test to warm up your memory and build confidence.

Visual recall that works

Retrieval maps help you learn faster by making your brain actively work for the information. They show you what you know, highlight what you don’t, and give you a visual structure that makes complex topics easier to understand. By starting from memory, adding details in layers, and revisiting your maps regularly, you’ll strengthen your recall and study more efficiently.

Careers Office

Careers Office

From the Careers Office: update from the latest Australian employment data

The latest Australian Jobs 2026 report released by Jobs and Skills Australia provides a valuable snapshot of where Australia’s labour market is heading and what this means for students making decisions today.

More than 90% of employment growth over the decade to 2035 is expected to require post-school training or study. 40% of advertised jobs now require a bachelor’s degree or higher.

School subjects are one way to explore careers, but they don’t tell the whole story. When students first understand who they are, what matters to them, what they’re naturally good at and the strengths they bring, including hobbies and interests, they can explore careers that are a genuinely good “fit” for them intellectually and personally.

The report also highlights the importance employers place on personal attributes. At interview, 49% of employers identified a candidate’s approach and attitude to work as important, while 43% pointed to cultural fit and personality. This makes helping students recognise and articulate their strengths increasingly important not only for choosing a career, but eventually for getting the job. A candidate’s enthusiasm and passion are always remembered long after their specific ATAR or academic results have been forgotten by the employer.

Growth is particularly strong in Health Care and Social Assistance, with Education and Training, Construction, and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services also expanding. At the same time, AI is expected to change how many jobs are performed rather than simply replace them, increasing the value of human capabilities such as judgement, communication and creative problem-solving.

Perhaps the most important message is that careers are becoming less linear. Students are likely to move between occupations, industries and further education throughout their lives. Helping them understand and develop their transferable strengths and capabilities will therefore be more valuable than trying to narrow the focus onto one lifelong profession.

With thanks to MyCareerMatch

It’s Open Day season!
Make the most of these opportunities to explore the campus, connect with current students, find out about clubs and societies, and ask about degrees and scholarships!
 
University of Sydney Open Day 2026
Organisation: University of Sydney
Location: University of Sydney, Camperdown Campus
Date: August 29, 2026
Join us at the University of Sydney Open Day. Experience our vibrant student life on campus, hear from academics and current students and discover what makes us different.
UTS Open Day 2026
Organisation: University of Technology Sydney
Location: University of Technology Sydney, City Campus
Date: August 29, 2026
Discover UTS. What you can expect at Open Day:
  • Ask questions about admissions, pathways and study options
  • Attend course information sessions
  • Speak with academics and current students
  • Explore labs and learning spaces
  • Learn about scholarships, accommodation and support services
  • Join guided campus and facility tours
  • Discover clubs, societies and student communities
University of Newcastle Open Day 2026, Central Coast
Organisation: University of Newcastle
Location: University of Newcastle, Ourimbah & Gosford Campuses
Date: August 29, 2026
Open Day is packed with everything you need to know about going to the University of Newcastle. Participate in degree presentations, info sessions and tours of the campus.
Enjoy a hands-on experience with our program activations, and ask our student ambassadors questions about uni life.
Find out more
National Art School Open Day 2026
Organisation: National Art School
Location: National Art School
Date: September 5, 2026
The National Art School is Australia’s leading independent fine art school, with a hands-on studio-based teaching model that has delivered a rich tradition of art practice and world-renowned alumni for over 100 years. On the frontier of arts education, NAS provides a progressive and holistic approach to study, and we invite the public to join us on Open Day to share in our creative community.
Discover what life is like for students at the National Art School by participating in studio demonstrations, meeting with academic staff, visiting the NAS Gallery and student exhibition spaces across campus.
UNSW Open Day 2026
Organisation: University of New South Wales
Location: University of New South Wales, Kensington Campus
Date: September 5, 2026
Open Day is an opportunity for future students, family, alumni and community members to explore everything a university has to offer, so they can make an informed decision about their future.
Whether you’re starting uni soon, considering postgraduate studies or just curious, UNSW Open Day is a chance to discover UNSW and find out everything the University has to offer. At UNSW Open Day, we’ll help you find your unique path to uni, and you’ll discover the progress you could make as one of Australia’s most employable graduates.
There will be more than 200 sessions available to help you explore your study options, tour our buzzing campuses, enjoy the free food – you’ll get expert advice and have fun while you’re at it.
P&C News

P&C News

 

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

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

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

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