This time next week things will be in full swing for our Open Day on Saturday 19 May between 10am and 2pm. Our 2018 Open Day has some surprising additions you may not know about. Here are just six of them:

1. 1. Everyone is invited. This event is not just for new parents and visitors. Most school open days are held during the week and are only for newcomers. GCC’s Open Day is for all our current families and our new families wanting to learn more about the College. For our current parents of primary students, this is the perfect time to visit secondary classrooms and learn more about the exciting opportunities your child has as they progress through their year levels. We have back to back performances so come and watch your child or your child’s friends perform and bring the whole family to enjoy the experience!
   2. Food trucks galore! Each year the queues for food seem to grow longer so to reduce your waiting time and increasing your food options, we have invited quite a few food trucks to add to our Tuckshop and Hospitality offerings as well as the very popular P and F barbecue. There will be delicious donuts from Donut Kitchen and calamari and chips from Calamari Canteen. Nannie Jane will have tempura crab and prawns plus lasagne, cheesecake, deep fried cookie dough and funnel cakes. Mojo Foods will have dishes like arancini balls, Tuscan pork belly rolls, Italian beef or pulled pork focaccia plus Italian salads and desserts. Mr Whippy will have delicious ice creams (but without nuts) and we can expect slushies, snow cones, fairy floss and popcorn from Stars and Stripes. The DeLorean coffee trailer will be there to help you wash it all down with a gourmet coffee or hot chocolate.

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

      

       
   3. Inflatable soccer field on the oval. This is also new to GCC’s Open Day in 2018 and I’m sure it will be an exciting addition, especially for the older students who may be too big for the jumping castle. Thanks to the Sports Department for organising this one. 
   4. ‘Crystal ball’ look into the future. Our Business Manager John Dohler will be manning a stand where you can digitally enter the new Performing Arts Centre and see what it will look like when it is finished. Very exciting!
   5. Parking will be easier. We have arranged for our staff to park off-site to free up as many car parks as possible. We have also altered the train route so it can pick up people from Roberts Road along the footpath spanning the eastern section of the campus. Train signs will be up on the day so keep an eye out for them.
   6. No helium balloons. We have become aware of how bad helium balloons are for the environment especially when they fly out of little children’s hands and float into the air to make their way into one of our waterways. For this reason there will no longer be helium balloons on campus. Instead of handing these out to new young visitors to the College, we are giving out pretty little windmills that have been made out of recycled material, are totally recyclable and made in Australia.
      
      
2. As well as the things you may not have known about, all the favourites will also be at this year’s Open Day. We will have the jumping castle for smaller children and the animal nursery for the young and young at heart. You will be able to take a campus tour with our students, see them perform, say hello to me and the management team and see all the new construction taking place.
   
3. 
   I look forward to seeing you all at our 2018 Open Day. 
4. 
   Mike Curtis, Principal