the annual chronicle of fort street high school the annual chronicle of fort street high school

82 Pages·2017·7.08 MB·English

THE ANNUAL CHRONICLE OF FORT STREET HIGH SCHOOL
2016
Fort Street High School
Parramatta Road
Petersham, NSW 2049 Australia
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
THE ANNUAL CHRONICLE OF FORT STREET HIGH SCHOOL

THE FORTIAN 2016
DETAIL OF A POSTER BY DOMINIC BICEGO
Note From The Editors 2 Visual Arts 34 Art Studio 58
Principal 4 Drama 37 Diversity Committee 58
Deputy Principals 5 Environment Committee 58
SRC 6 STUDENT WORK Year 9 High Resolves 59
Fort fest 7 Year 12 English Extension 2 38 Mock Trial 59
Speech Day Awards 8 Year 8 English 43 Year 7 Charity Committee 60
Careers 13 Year 7 Picture Books 44 Year 8 Charity Committee 60
Volunteering 13 HSC Art Major Work 46 Year 9 Charity Committee 61
Special Guest Speech 14 English Enrichment 47 Drama Club 61
Obituaries 15 Theatresports 61
Shakespeare Day 16 EVENTS Tournament of Minds 62
Japanese Sister School Visit 48 Fortian Families 63
FACULTY REPORTS Public Speaking Competitions 49
English 17 Multicultural Day 50 FAREWELLS
History 18 Michael Kirby Visit 50 Matthew Dopierala 64
Social Science 19 Open Evening 51 David Osland 64
Languages 20 Year 10 Seminars 51
Sport 22 Remembrance Day 52 YEAR REPORTS
PDHPE 23 Year 9 History Dance 53 Years 7 - 11 Reports 66
Science 26 Jean Arnot Memorial Luncheon 54
TAS 28 EXITE Engineering Camp 54 GROUP PHOTOGRAPHS
Robotics 30 Staff Photo 71
Mathematics 31 CLUBS AND COMMITTEES Years 7 - 11 Photos 72
Music 32 Amnesty Committee 55
IMP 32 Debating 56 YEAR 12
Year 12 Photo 75
Year 12 Graduation Speech 78
Acknowledgements
Fortian Production Team: Catriona Arcamone, Roslynne Moxham
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A NOTE FROM THE EDITORS
MOSS JOHNSTON
Front Row: Max Carter, Ailish Campbell, Moss Johnston, Niamh Elliot Brennan, Luca Ittimari
Second Row: Lucy Bailey, Alexander “Woody” Coombs, Sophia Locke, Jayden White, Dante Burn, Imogen Marosz, Bhuvan Senthil, Grace Shan
Back Row: Dominic Smith, Ben Hamer, Luca Charlier, Oscar Martin, Alexander Migdalias, Cole Johnson, Adrian Castillo, Rahel Sahni
Absent: Aidan Limnios, Sabrina Pham
It’s been another busy year for Fort Street, which means it’s been
another busy year for Fortian. In a way, it can be quite exasperating.
All we want to do is peacefully put together a magazine filled with the
casually interesting stories about the Fort, but every year someone
decides to achieve something, which frankly just makes it harder for all
FROM THE PRODUCTION TEAM
of us here. I mean, honestly. Here we are, slaving away all week at the
end of term to compile what should be a vaguely interesting collection
I would like to acknowledge the great work of The Fortian
of stuff, and people are constantly deciding to win awards, construct
Production Team who this year have really been responsible
new artworks, and visit camps (and/or other countries).
for its whole production. Under the outstanding leadership of
For example, this year we had someone establish a new sport within
Moss Johnston and Oscar Martin, both of year 10, the students
the school. It was rowing. Do you realise how much more time we
have worked independantly to produce the 2016 Fortian. In
had to spend writing about that? Actually, none, because we found
particular, Oscar has worked to design the complete annual
someone else who actually knew about it to write an article, but if we
chronicle single handedly. The team is to be congratulated for
had had to write about it, that would have taken time. And that would its professionalism, creativity and commitment.
have been effort, which would have been a nuisance. Just thinking
about it burns me up.
CATRIONA ARCAMONE
And here we are right now. I’m sitting in front of a laptop, writing a
welcome to this year’s Fortian. That’s Fortian 2016. It has been a taxing
but rewarding oddysey. Henceforth, I will end this welcome, and I
hope you enjoy this journey of journalistic exellence.
Yours,
Moss Johnston, Editor-in- chief.
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PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
In 2013 I wrote that the year had been one of change and The school plan, with three strategic directions of
relieving in higher duties as well as preparation for LMBR Excellent Teaching, Effective Learning, Inclusive and
and SAP finance. Positive Culture and Communication has focused our
In 2016 I again write that we have lived in a time of change. strategic direction. In 2017 the final year of this planning
It seems that change is a constant in our lives in the twenty cycle we will see some wonderful achievements I am sure.
first century, or at least change at a much faster rate than in
the twentieth century. I am ever humbled by the work of Fortians in the
We have adapted to substantial changes in key staff and community working tirelessly to make a positive difference
welcomed a range of new and highly capable members of to support others in need. The opportunity afforded
staff to our school. to me to relieve as Director Public Schools NSW gave
One of our school songs says Fort Street’s name rings further opportunities for staff to relieve in higher duties.
round the world. This is true of the achievements of Ms DiStefano has been a fabulous co-principal. She has
Fortians each year and of staff. The teachers who have been most effective and is well respected by the school
been mentored from fine teachers to outstanding teacher community. Ms Arcamone Ms Cameron have been
leaders are now spreading the Fort Street way across the committed and capable in the role of Deputy Principal
public education system, and we should be rightly proud while Ms Mattick ably stepped into the role of Head
that we have so developed our staff. As Principal it has Teacher CAPA as did Mr Pike as Head Teacher TAS.
always been my priority to develop a culture of nurturing
leaders, those leaders are students teaching and non- I thank them and all of the staff for their commitment to
teaching staff. Fortians each and every year and especially during 2016.
In addition to my work as a Director Public Schools
I am immensely proud of our achievements in 2016. NSW I visited Singapore as part of the exchange program
These achievements include the promotion at the end LEAP and took some long service leave to explore the
of 2015 of Ms Manson to Deputy Principal, at the end world through the Trans-Mongolian and Trans-Siberian
of Term 1 2016 , Mr Dopierala to Deputy Principal and railway. My adventures and the variety of experiences have
Mr Osland to Principal. It is always preferable that such certainly enhanced my leadership skills.
change occurs over a wide time frame and in 2016 the
stars aligned so that this time frame was truncated to six I thank you all for your support during 2016 and look
months. In addition two teachers who I was fortunate to forward to our work and a supportive community in 2107.
select on merit, Dr Strauss and Mr Hoekstra, have secured
moves to schools much closer to their now homes. Each Roslynne Moxham.
of these wonderful teachers has left an enormous legacy Principal FSHS/Director Public Schools NSW Inner
at the Fort, they are passionate educators as well as deeply City Strategy
knowledgeable and passionate about their subjects. Let us
celebrate our fortune to have such a fine teaching staff and
wish them well in working in the public education system
to enhance the lives and learning of other students. Our
staff team is one of our strengths as a school. The team has
gained from the addition of new permanent members of
staff, Mr Boyle as Head Teacher History, Mr Backhouse,
Head Teacher Languages, Mr Semaan as Head Teacher
TAS and Mr Morrison as Deputy Principal as well as Mr
Prasad in Science and Mr Jayacody in TAS.
Our school year has been full of wonderful achievements
to celebrate across the range of activities in the school,
including our very first Science Challenge across three
primary schools and one high school; Year 7 History
students being placed 1st in NSW and third in the nation
in the Australian History Competition, the initiative of
a Cross Curricular Project on Anxiety in Year 8, the
expansion of the Duke of Edinburgh scheme and Year 12
students achieving gold during their final year of school;
two nominations for HSC Encore and four nominations
and three inclusions in HSC ArtExpress. Our musicians
excelled and completed 89 gigs during the year including
at the Schools Spectacular in the orchestra, choir and as
featured artists.
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DEPUTY PRINCIPALS’ REPORT
When reflecting on 2016, many ideas crossed our collective incarnations of the crest.
mind: the four emperors of 69AD, the four pillars of 2016 saw the implementation of the inaugural connected
wisdom, the awesome foursome; like any good quartet all curricula program, which was developed for Year 8 to
participants need to work together, playing different parts, address both gifted education and the wellbeing of students.
to create a perfect harmony. Fort Street 2016 has been a It was a highly successful program with students working
year of opportunity and growth in the Deputy Principal collaboratively to produce academic journal articles and
position. We farewelled David Osland, long time Deputy innovative presentations on the topic of adolescent anxiety.
and often Relieving Principal, and Matthew Dopierala, who The program will run again in 2017 for Year 8, and a
had relieved as Deputy for long periods of time, as they took different model will be implemented for Year 9, with the
up new substantive positions at Chatswood High School focus of study being global issues.
and North Sydney Boys High School respectively. This A rigorous professional learning program has been in
brought opportunities for others to fill the chair. Happily place throughout the year for staff, and while many outside
and effectively sharing two chairs, (two musical chairs?), providers gave excellent workshops, some of the best
hot-desking, (we are nothing if not responding to 21st training was provided by our own colleagues on a variety of
century working life), and being flexible and responsive to subjects, including Google classroom, Schoolology, Visible
situations as they arise, as well as forward planning for 2017 Learning, Mind Matters and staff development in writing
and beyond, we (Catriona Arcamone, Rebecca Cameron, CVs and undertaking job interviews – all things which
Karen Di Stefano and Joel Morrison) have led the school enhance student outcomes. Programs across the school
with vision, energy and humour. were developed and refined to implement the GERRIC
Karen Di Stefano has not only been Deputy Principal in material (gifted education) that all staff had been trained in.
2016, but Relieving Principal, and she is now also Co- There have been a number of other innovations during the
Principal, two days a week. Catriona Arcamone has been year, often in response to needs of the time. A technical
Relieving Deputy Principal until the arrival of Joel Morrison, support team was established – of Year 11 students to assist
our new Deputy Principal, from St George Girls High the student body with issues pertaining to BYOD. This
School in Term 4. A very warm welcome is extended to Joel. excellent team will be replaced by a new batch of Year 11
Rebecca Cameron has been Relieving Deputy Principal and volunteers for 2017. Student volunteering extended with
is now Co-Deputy Principal two days a week. a wonderful team of Year 11s working with international
Strong connections have been formed with four new students at the University of Newcastle.
Head Teachers and a number of teachers in relieving Head Another year at the Fort – busy, innovative, productive,
Teacher positions. Faculties across the school have continued supportive. The DP quartet has worked as an ensemble,
to grow and develop under their new leadership, delivering each member providing a counterpoint for the others,
quality programs within the school to enhance teaching and dynamic but harmonious in the diversity of the skills we
learning, but further, too, many faculties have demonstrated bring to the position.
quality teaching and learning beyond the school in the wider
community. Connections were also made between Year Karen Di Stefano
Advisers, Assistant Year Advisers and Deputies, ensuring Joel Morrison
the wellbeing of all students is addressed in a timely manner. Catriona Arcamone
Changes in leadership have seen changes in the school in a Rebecca Cameron
number of arenas. In line with the reinvigoration that comes
with new leadership, comes the
reinvigoration of the school’s new
structure. After much consultation
and robust discussion with the
student body, the teaching staff and
community, we have restructured
our school day and this will be
implemented in 2017. A major
consideration for the restructure
was to allow for greater student
recognition and student voice.
The development of the school’s
website and parent portal has been
a major undertaking this year, and
2017 should see a stronger form
of communication between all
stakeholders at the Fort. Part of this
process has been the refinement of
the school’s logo from the many
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STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL
This year was another success for the SRC as we extended in so little time without the help of the rest of the SRC
our focus on celebrating school spirit within the Fort Street body. Thank you everyone for attending meetings, voicing
community. your opinions, representing your student body and helping
Keeping with tradition, we ran the SRC Handover run events by making posters or working shifts at stalls.
Barbecue, the retro-themed Christmas Dance, the Rose Thank you for your enthusiasm and commitment and we
Drive and the Year 7 and 8 Welcome Trivia Dance, all hope you enjoyed our games-packed camp and urgent
of which were extremely successful. Some new projects lunch pizza party!
included the Easter Egg hunt, and Project Positive where The entire Year 11 SRC team has been honoured in taking
we encouraged the Year 12s in their HSC Trial examinations part to help the school through events and consulting
with heart-warming messages from the students. In with the Executive, coordinating over the course of this
Terms 2 and 3, rather than only organising one sporting year with Mr Osland, Ms Di Stefano and Ms Moxham.
competition as in previous years, we pushed ourselves We’d like to thank them for their support with the SRC
and ran the Basketball and Mixed Netball competitions and guiding us when organising events. We’d also like to
which were enormously popular, allowing for diverse thank the office staff, for helping the SRC with the finance
groups to show their sporting talents. However, there is system and our countless printing of posters. Thank you
no doubt that the highlight was the Fort Street Festival. to the all the teachers who gave up their time at lunch to
Despite a deluge of rain in the worst storm of 2016, the help supervise our sport competitions. Our biggest thank
school came together and showed off our school spirit in you goes to Ms Ryan, who has continuously supported the
the SRC’s first ever Talent Quest, the student stalls, P&C SRC with her energy and care for all the students. She has
multicultural food stalls, and the IMP performances. We been an amazing coordinator and without her the SRC
hope that everyone who participated had fun! Finally, to would not have been able to function the way it has.
finish our term off, we made the first amendments to This year has been an amazing year, expanding our
the SRC Constitution in 13 years to clarify the roles and horizons and enabling us to develop leadership skills that
responsibilities of the Student Representative Council. we would otherwise not be able to experience. We know
As SRC President and Vice-President, we have had the that the incoming SRC executive will be able to continue
pleasure of experiencing many opportunities that have to progress and improve Fort Street with their passion and
inspired and motivated us as leaders of the school; attending hard work. To President Alicia, Vice-President Claudia,
events from other schools, interacting with the student and the rest of the SRC, congratulations from the Year 11
body, speaking and meeting with the staff, organising the SRC of 2016 and we wish you all the best!
biennial Fort Street Festival, along with many other events.
It has been an honour to work with Brianna, Edwin, Zoe, Victor Tsang & Olivia Le Khac
Bonnie, Hans and Harvey this year, and there is no doubt Outgoing SRC President & Vice-President
that each member has contributed significantly to the SRC.
Moreover, we wouldn’t have been able to achieve so much
SRC GROUP PHOTO
HERE
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FORT STREET FESTIVAL
Sunday 5th June. Fort Fest 2016. Despite the poor weather, Bands to encourage more participation within the student
in was a day of unity and diversity that raised over $10 000. body. There was a diverse range of performers including
It was supported by over 200 volunteers, included over 25 dancers, beatboxers, and bands of varying styles and genres.
stalls and had a turnout of over 2000 people. The variety and quality of all the performances made it
hard for judges Ms Cameron, Ms Mattick and Mr Scudds
There was a wide range of stalls run by students, parents to pick a single winner from the bunch. In 1st place was
and school faculties including stalls advertising robotics, the rock band The Roaring Campbells, 2nd was Claudia
the Diversity Committee or selling foods from across the Stone-Stacy with a solo singing performance, and 3rd
cultural board. There were also some extremely impressive was a tie between Praise Akuete and Evalena Chilas, both
IMP performances from various ensembles. doing some very impressive dance acts. These groups and
individuals received cash prizes, but it was all participants
A great variety of acts were performed at Fort Fest's very who deserve to be congratulated for their performance
first Talent Quest, a change from last Fest's Battle of the skills and confidence.
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2015 SPEECH DAY AWARDS
YEAR 7 in Year 8; The Prize for PD.H.PE
JACQUELINE MAI RAWSON The Fortian Prize for 3rd
AIDAN JAMES LIMNIOS The Alma Hamilton Prize for in Year 8
Dux; The James Baxendale Memorial Prize for English; SARAH THIEN KHANH TRAN The James Baxendale
The Prize for French Memorial Prize for English
SASHA CARYS MENDES The Fortian Prize for 2nd SUNIL NAVIN JASSAL The Dr William Gailey Prize for
in Year 7; Year 7 Leadership Award; The Prize for Science; Year 8 Leadership Award; The P&C Prize for
Technology; The Prize for PD.H.PE (aeq.) Academic Excellence in 8T
ANSON LEE The Fortian Prize for 3rd in Year 7 AARTHI MUVVA Year 8 Perita Omnium Artium Award;
BENJAMIN FELIX PLUNKETT HAMER The Major- Year Adviser’s Award for Excellence
General Fewtrell Prize for English and History NIAMH SAOIRSE ELLIOT-BRENNAN Year 8 Perita
INDIA RASCHE TREWEEK The Dr William Gailey Prize Omnium Artium Award
for Science YOLANA MARIA SIDWELL TRUSCOTT Year 8 Perita
LUCA ASHLEY PETER MACRAE CHARLIER The Omnium Artium Award
Sanjay Seth Prize for History; Year Adviser’s Award for ASHLEY JANE CHALLINOR Year 8 Leadership Award
Excellence LARISSA QIAN HUI YANG Year Adviser’s Award for
AMEIRA KIM SANT Year 7 Perita Omnium Artium Excellence; The Prize for History (aeq.)
Award; The Prize for Drama NICOLE DIEM ANH NGO Year Adviser’s Award for
SABRINA KT PHAM Year 7 Perita Omnium Artium Excellence; The Prize for Technology
Award BETTY XIAN TIN CHEN The Class Prize for 8F
CALVIN ZHEN YANG XU Year 7 Peritus Omnium KYU REINA LEE The Class Prize for 8O
Artium Award ELOISE RUBY KERSHLER The Class Prize for 8R
JADEN ANDRE WHITE Year 7 Leadership Award; Year SOFIA MAY LOCKE The Class Prize for 8T
Adviser’s Award for Excellence BONNIE HUANG The Class Prize for 8I; The Prize for
LENNIE JAVIER NEAGLE-MILLAR Year 7 Leadership Geography; The Prize for French
Award YUNTAO GEORGE JIANG The Prize for Mathematics
SAM BACH NGUYEN Year Adviser’s Award for AAROHI TANAWADE The Prize for History (aeq.)
Excellence; The Prize for German HUGO JOHN DEGOTARDI The Prize for French
CECILIA ELIZABETH MADDOX The Class Prize for 7F Continuers
MATTHEW JOEY MOLONEY The Class Prize for 7O; RENA GAO The Prize for German
The Prize for PD.H.PE (aeq.) DENISE LIN The Prize for Japanese
AMELIE FRANCESSCA JESS SKELTON The Class Prize DZAN GWAN ALAN AU The Prize for Chinese
for 7R LUCA TROPEA The Prize for Music
ELLE QUYNH ANH NGO The Class Prize for 7T LILY THY LAM The Prize for Visual Arts
THOMAS WILLIAM STEVENS The Class Prize for 7I; VIVIAN LUFAN ZHANG The P&C Prize for Academic
The Prize for Geography; The Prize for Visual Arts Excellence in 8F
FELICITY CHARLS The Prize for Mathematics GEMMA ALANA HINTON The P&C Prize for
JENNIFER JIAYIN SHU The Prize for Japanese Academic Excellence in 8O
NICOLE LIU The Prize for Chinese; The P&C Prize for CHANTELLE ANOCHA JOHNSTONE The P&C Prize
Academic Excellence in 7T for Academic Excellence in 8R
JUSTIN KIN SUM CHEUNG The Prize for Music BONNIE ZHAN The P&C Prize for Academic
TIFFANY TIEU The P&C Prize for Academic Excellence Excellence in 8I
in 7F
LUCA THOMAS ITTIMANI The P&C Prize for
Academic Excellence in 7O YEAR 9
BRIDGET HOLLY GARD The P&C Prize for Academic
Excellence in 7R JIA MIN GUO The Year 12 1994 Prize for Dux; The Dr
ALANA GRACE HODZIC The P&C Prize for Academic William Gailey Prize for Science; The Prize for Elective
Excellence 7I History; The Prize for Geography; The Prize for German;
The Prize for PD.H.PE
COLE GRAY JOHNSON The Vimal Seth Prize for
YEAR 8 2nd in Year 9; The James Baxendale Memorial Prize for
English; The Prize for Elective Geography; The Prize
ROSEMARY RACHEL HEARNE The 1953-57 Boys for French; The Prize for Drama; The P&C Prize for
Prize for Dux; The Dr J Bradfield Prize for Proficiency in Academic Excellence in PD.H.PE (aeq.)
Science; The Prize for Drama MICHELLE HOI YING CHEUNG The Fortian Prize for
TARA JAMUNA LUCKOCK The Fortian Prize for 2nd 3rd in Year 9; The Prize for Japanese
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