Principals Report

Dear Fortians, Parents and Guardians, 

To be honest, I have not been at school much since the last edition of Mercurius having been quite unwell with my first case of COVID followed by a long weekend and then three days in Tamworth for the NSW Secondary Principal’s Conference. Next term, the school will be undergoing external validation which is a process by which a panel from the Department of Education judges the school’s self-evaluation against the school excellence framework. I would like to share this submission at the next P&C meeting which will be held on site and online in term 3. This is a great opportunity for us to showcase the high calibre of teaching, learning and leading at the Fort along with the amazing depth of experiences and opportunities available for students. I welcome all parents to either come to the P&C meeting at school or to join us online. 

On Thursday 22 June, I will be joining Murat Dizdar Secretary of NSW Department of Education and Fortian 1990 (and Dux of his year) in the annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout at White Bay Cruise Terminal in Rozelle. Whilst it is currently looing like this will be a very cold night to be sleeping under the stars it is all for a great cause. The rising cost of living combined with Australia’s rental crisis is pushing record numbers of people to breaking point, and forcing them onto the streets. 4 in 10 people seeking assistance from charities are employed but unable to meet rising rents, they are being called the “working homeless”.  I would like to thank all the Fort Street families who have already generously donated to this cause and if you are still interested in donating my fundraising page is still active: https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/juliettemcmurray 

Fort Street celebrated its annual Multicultural Day with great enthusiasm last Friday. The school’s diverse community came together to embrace and showcase the rich tapestry of cultures that coexist within its walls. The event was a vibrant display of unity and acceptance, as students and staff proudly presented their heritage through various activities, performances, and delicious cuisine. The entire Kilgour Quad was transformed into a kaleidoscope of colours, sounds, and flavours, with students donning traditional attire and sharing their cultural traditions with one another. The day served as a powerful reminder of the beauty and strength found in diversity, fostering an environment of mutual respect and understanding among the Fort Street High School community. 

Over the weekend Chemistry students participated in the NSW School’s Titration Competition hosted on Saturday at Wenona School in North Sydney. The students’ performances were outstanding and they should all be congratulated for their efforts. Once again, my gratitude goes to Mr Leondios for accompanying the students on a Saturday. On Sunday Ms Mattick spent the entire day at Enmore Theatre with the Intermediate Theatre Sports team who made it this year to the Finals. I was lucky enough to be able to watch the improvised drama scenes and was in awe at all the student’s talent. Thanks again to Ms Mattick for giving up her Sunday for these students. 

UNIFORM: As the cold weather continues I would like to remind students to adhere to the school’s uniform policy. The uniform shop is currently fully stocked with winter jackets and jumpers. Student assistance is also available if required, please contact the school if you require this. 

COVID-19 Safety Measures: Despite the progress in controlling the pandemic, we must remain vigilant. Please continue to follow the recommended safety protocols, including wearing masks, practicing good hand hygiene, and maintaining social distancing whenever possible. Let us prioritize the health and well-being of our school community.  

Upcoming Events: 

Thursday 22 June – Years 7 and 10 Parent Teacher Interviews: School Hall 

Thursday 22 June – Astronomy Night on the School Oval 4.00pm – 7.00pm 

Friday 23 June – IMP Winter Concert 5.30pm dinner in the Kilgour Quad and 7.00pm concert 

Monday 26 June – Astronomy Night on the School Oval 4.00pm – 7.00pm 

Tuesday 27 June – Year 11 and 12 PDHPE excursion to Swans HQ Moore Park 

Wednesday 28 June – CSSI Showcase (Combined Schools Science Immersion program) will be taking place throughout the day with students from Ashfield PS, Summer Hill PS and Wilkins PS will be presenting their projects with their FSHS Year 10 mentors. 

Wednesday 28 June – Years 8 and 9 Parent Teacher Interviews: School Hall 

Wednesday 28 June – Year 8 Subject Selection Information Evening for Parents and Students to choose electives for years 9 and 10. 

Friday 29 June – Commerce Stalls at lunch (lots of food available – most stalls accepting cash only) 

Friday 29 June – Astronomy Night on the School Oval 4.00pm – 7.00pm 

Silver Duke of Edinburgh Practice Journey

In Term 2, Week 8, our Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award students completed their Practice Adventurous Journey. This year there were over 60 students, which is one of our largest groups. The lower Blue Mountains area around Glenbrook was selected for this 2 day event. Overnight the students camped at the Euroka Clearing campsite during a chilly 4˚C night.

The students were conducting an exploration of the area to develop their navigation skills. Over two days the four different walking groups participated in an orienteering route and a goal focused mission to find Dadder Cave. However, the main objective of the Practice Hike is to allow for reflection on the planning and walking process, so that a longer qualifying journey can be undertaken safely. While Dadder Cave remained unfound, students developed a range of skills in track awareness, and greater confidence with map and compass navigation skills. There were also some important considerations to be made about meal planning, safety and the equipment students bought. With these important lessons in mind, students will be attempting their Qualifying Adventurous Journey walk over 3 days and 2 nights. The qualifying walk will take place in Term 4, Week 9.

I would also like to extend an enormous thank you to Ms Fluitsma, Mr O’Neill and Ms Jenkyn for their attendance and support with the hike. 

David Latimer

Silver Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator

These photos are also available on the school website.

Multicultural Day

Last Friday the SRC organised Multicultural Day, aiming to celebrate the diverse range of cultures here at Fort Street. We had over 20 student-run stalls, ranging from various cultures including: Indian, Chinese, German, French, Korean, Mexican, British and Nepalese, and various activities and food including: sausage sizzles, guessing games, henna designs, curries, snacks and drinks! 

The Kilgour Quad was completely packed, with music and decorations from stall owners celebrating their cultures, including the SRC-organised cardboard cut-out hands decorated with coloured flags hung above the Quad.  

We would like to thank all the students who organised stalls and those who participated on the day by dressing up in their cultural dress! A massive thank you to Mr Prothero, the office staff and Mr O’Neill for their amazing help with organisation!

Please have a look at the fantastic photos from the day! They are also available on the school website.

Thank you,

SRC Executives 2022/23

7 Kirby History

From mummifying classmates to learning about ancient myths and religious beliefs, 7 Kirby has had a particularly productive semester in History so far. Focusing on Ancient societies, we started by looking at Ancient Egypt and its everyday life such as education, warfare, arts and social status, beginning with Ancient Greece shortly after. We enjoyed this unit.

One of the main ideas that we looked at was funerary customs and practices in Ancient Egypt. The Ancient Egyptians had strong beliefs and extensive rituals regarding the afterlife. The most significant was the mummification process, which required a tedious amount of care. The Ancient Egyptians had an immaculate amount of customs and beliefs associated with their mummification process. They made the bodies into “mummies” to preserve the bodies entering the afterlife. This was because they believed that the mummified body was the home of this soul or spirit. If the body was destroyed, the spirit might be lost.

The mummification process included the following 11 steps:

We all got into groups and recreated the steps, as tableaus.

Our class especially enjoyed creating scenes and tableaus as we’ve done them on various other occasions. One of our most memorable included the archaeology excavation site scenes and tableaus we created at the beginning of the year. Students were required to separate into different groups, there, we could either act out a scene or a frozen picture (a tableau). The point of the scenes was to depict the action of archaeologists’ attempt at the excavation of ancient objects such as tombs, artistic artefacts and daily artefacts. Some groups also depicted scenes of news reporting of archaeologists and their findings.

Moving on, 7 Kirby also engaged in another educational activity, a 360° VR video tour of the Giza Pyramid. Viewing an online video that allowed viewers to move 360° in any direction ensured that our class could see not only what was currently shown on the video but also its surroundings. Our class was exceedingly engaged, requesting different types of angles to be shown.

7 Kirby has immensely enjoyed recreating tableaus and scenes that corresponded to a specific part of our unit (inc. everyday life in Egypt, mummification, ancient societal beliefs and myths, warfare battle scenes), making presentations with classmates, watching documentaries about the ancient civilisation and many other interactive lessons. While we are keen to begin Geography, we will also miss learning History.

Year 8 French

Year 8 French students participated in the wonderful French game of pétanque to celebrate the end of our unit about sports. This allowed us to put into practice all of the vocabulary we have been learning and to get out of the classroom. Pétanque is similar to boules, lawn bowls and bocce, generally played on a hard gravelly terrain where boules are launched by two teams trying to get closest to un cochonnet (a jack). We watched some videos about how to play and learnt a number of useful phrases that could be used while playing, including “c’est mon tour!” (it’s my turn), “je suis le gagneur!” (I’m the winner) and “où est le cochonnet?” (where is the jack?). Students also had to count their points in French – to win you must have treize points (13 points), which means 13 of your boules were closer than the other team’s. This was a fun lesson that we got to spend outside and we all learnt a little more about this popular French game.

Mr de Jong

SPECIAL REPORT: Social Media Influencers

Social media influencers have become powerful individuals who often shape the opinions and beliefs of others due to strong connections with their audiences. In today’s fast-paced digital world, attention has become a valuable commodity.

However, the impact of social media influencers on youth mental health is a growing concern, most recently, the controversial actions and statements of Andrew Tate. His rise to fame has made him a polarising figure, amassing a significant following of mostly young males. Educators and families have raised urgent concerns about the damaging nature of Tate’s content, worried that his messages may radicalise students and create a generation of young men with regressive and harmful beliefs.

Young people often compare themselves to the idealised lives presented by influencers, leading to feelings of inadequacy, low self-worth and dissatisfaction. Social media algorithms may also expose them to inappropriate or harmful content such as explicit material, promotion of harmful behaviours, or distorted perceptions of body image or mental health.

It is important to guide a young person’s social media use and promote open communication. Be curious to comprehend why they might be drawn to radical influencers, like Andrew Tate, and actively seek understanding as part of the solution. While not all influencers have a negative impact, parents play a vital role in ensuring a balanced approach to social media. By actively modelling kindness, respect and positive values, parents can help tackle the sway of radical influencers and be part of the solution to countering unhealthy masculinity.

This Special Report provides guidance on how to respond to misinformation and disinformation, instead encouraging critical thinking and emphasising the value of real-life connections. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please consider seeking medical or professional help.

Click on this link to view the Special Report https://fortstreet.nsw.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-social-media-influencers-au

SPECIAL REPORT: Celebrating NAIDOC Week

NAIDOC week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is celebrated by all Australians and is a great opportunity to recognise and learn more about the history and culture of indigenous communities.

NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced back to the Aboriginal rights movement, when on Australia Day 1938, protestors marched through the streets of Sydney to highlight the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Today, it is a week-long celebration held in July that consists of range of traditional and contemporary activities.

NAIDOC Week is an important event that helps build positive relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. It enables a deeper understanding of our differences and similarities. NAIDOC week is an opportunity for all Australians to eliminate bias and discrimination by reflecting and reconciling the wrongs of the past to facilitate hope and build a fairer future. Families are encouraged to join in and support young people in learning the significance of NAIDOC Week.

This Special Report offers suggestions on how families can celebrate NAIDOC Week together. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report https://fortstreet.nsw.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-celebrating-naidoc-week

ADF Engineering Careers Virtual Information Session

ADF | Engineering Careers Virtual Information Session

June 29, 2023

Engineers in the ADF spend their careers working with some of the world’s most sophisticated hardware and technology. Consider a career in the Navy, Army or Air Force and keep Defence’s weapons, vehicles, aircraft, ships and infrastructure operating safely and effectively.

Join us for a virtual info session to speak with serving personnel and find out more.

Find out more

Macquarie University Year 12 webinars

We are excited to announce the expansion of our highly popular Year 12 webinar series with the addition of two new webinars. These new webinars are tailor-made for students keen to learn more about key undergraduate degrees in psychology and business and commerce.

Are you interested in learning more? Don’t miss out on joining our new webinars. For more information visit here.

Parents are also welcome to register and join the webinars.

We can’t wait to see you online.

Warm regards,

Future Students Team
Macquarie University

Western Sydney University’s HSC Study Sessions and Open Day

Western Sydney University’s annual free HSC Study Sessions are being offered again this year from 25-29 September.

Year 12 students are invited to register now for our free HSC Study Sessions. Students can choose from a range of 25 free sessions across 16 key HSC subject areas. These sessions are delivered online and offered in partnership with leading education services provider InspirationED, with their team of highly qualified HSC teachers and experienced markers to deliver the sessions.

Register here.

Open Day – Sunday 2 July
At Open Day, students can explore their dream degree here at Western Sydney University and experience uni life for a day.

There will be staff and students to answer any questions about early offers, pathways to getting in, scholarships and student life. There will be giveaways, demonstrations, performances, food trucks and even an ice-skating rink!

Please share with your students, families and school communities and join us at Open Day on Sunday 2 July!

Register your interested here.